A Fort Wayne man who originally faced an attempted murder charge has pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness in Allen County Superior Court. The plea deal, entered Friday, comes after prosecutors accused 31-year-old Michael E. Ward Jr. of shooting at his pregnant girlfriend during an April incident.
Ward had been charged with attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon, and unlawful carrying of a handgun. Under the plea agreement, only the criminal recklessness charge remains. If the judge accepts the deal, Ward could receive up to six years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, while the attempted murder and handgun charges would be dismissed.
The shooting took place just before 8:55 a.m. on April 17 near Stophlet and College avenues. According to a probable cause affidavit written by Fort Wayne Officer Sonia Atienzo, the victim, Shawnte Griffith, had entered the back seat of a black Jeep Wrangler she had ordered through Uber. Sebastian Hicks was the driver, as per The Journal Gazette.
As the Jeep began pulling away, Griffith told police she saw Ward parked nearby in his tan Buick LeSabre. As the rideshare vehicle passed, Ward allegedly got out, reached into his car for a tan AR-style short-barreled gun, and pointed it at her and the Uber driver.
“The defendant shot approximately three rounds toward the vehicle,” the affidavit stated. The gunfire shattered the rear window and flattened the rear passenger side tire. Officers recovered three shell casings at the scene.
The affidavit revealed that only hours before the shooting, Ward had warned Griffith by saying, “Fine, then. I’m going to get my gun and cash out.” Griffith interpreted the remark as a threat that he intended to kill her. Ward, who had been in a relationship with her for a year, reportedly knew she was pregnant at the time.
Griffith was described as fearful, afraid, and nervous when speaking with the police. Neither she nor the Uber driver was physically injured. Ward fled immediately after the shooting. Court documents also noted Ward has a prior battery conviction involving another individual two years earlier. As part of Friday’s plea deal, Ward must have no contact with Griffith or the Uber driver.
Prosecutors said they would not oppose his sentence being served through Community Corrections if he qualifies. Ward is scheduled for sentencing on December 4 before Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull. A three-day trial previously planned for mid-November has been canceled.
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