A Fort Wayne man has been charged with murder in the death of a woman found shot in the head inside an apartment last week. Police say the investigation began on October 17, when officers were called to the 2900 block of Schele Avenue following reports of a shooting.
Inside one of the apartments, officers found the body of 28-year-old Jasmine Marie Haywood. According to the Allen County Coroner’s Office, Haywood was identified on Thursday, though the official cause and manner of death are still “pending further investigation.” However, police say evidence indicates she was shot in the head, contradicting initial assumptions that her death might have been a suicide.
After reviewing surveillance footage, collecting witness statements, and analyzing cellphone data, investigators concluded Haywood had been killed. On Thursday, prosecutors charged 33-year-old Antres D. Holliness-Ransom with murder. He was arrested the previous day and taken into custody without incident.
Court documents reveal that surveillance video placed Holliness-Ransom’s vehicle at the scene around the time of the shooting. Police also tracked Haywood’s cellphone, which had allegedly been stolen by the suspect, leading investigators directly to him.
One witness, identified as a childhood friend of Holliness-Ransom, told police that the suspect had stolen several guns from him, one of which is believed to have been used in the killing. The same witness also told investigators that Holliness-Ransom had mentioned being owed money by Haywood — a dispute that may have been the motive for the crime.
Prosecutors allege that Holliness-Ransom shot Haywood in the forehead following an argument and fled the scene, taking her phone with him. The case has shaken the Fort Wayne community, with residents expressing shock at the brutal nature of the killing. Police have not yet commented on whether additional charges will be filed as the investigation continues.
For now, Holliness-Ransom remains in custody at the Allen County Jail, facing a single count of murder. The case will move forward in Allen Superior Court, where prosecutors say they will seek the maximum penalty allowed under Indiana law.