Fort Wayne homeowner arrested in fatal shooting of man accused of trying to break in

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Investigators say a Fort Wayne homeowner was not justified in shooting a man outside his house earlier this year. Martell Pickens, 30, is charged with reckless homicide for his role in a shooting that took place in the early hours of May 7, according to Allen Superior Court documents filed last week. The man who died was later identified as Khadolphee Taylor, 25. About 20 minutes before the shooting, Fort Wayne police had pulled over a vehicle that Taylor was driving. Officers noted in court documents that he may have been either intoxicated or mentally impaired and his driver's license had already been suspended. Police had his vehicle towed and told him to walk home. But not long afterward, someone reported Taylor as a suspicious person in the neighborhood. He was allegedly trying to break into vehicles and tried to get inside one house, according to court documents. Pickens was the homeowner. Shortly before 2:45 a.m., the FWPD responded to that report in the 500 block of East Rudisill Boulevard. While they were still on the way, dispatch advised Pickens allegedly shot Taylor. Taylor was taken to a hospital with one gunshot wound in his chest and was later pronounced dead. Police at the scene spoke to Pickens, who admitted he shot the man. He said he armed himself and went outside after learning a man was trying to get into cars in the neighborhood. 'Pickens stated he confronted Taylor outside the residence and ordered him to 'Back up,'' according to court documents. 'Pickens acknowledged that Taylor was unarmed, appeared intoxicated or under the influence of narcotics, and was walking toward him. Pickens stated that when Taylor continued approaching, he fired one round into Taylor's chest.' Pickens gave police the Glock .45 caliber handgun he'd used, according to court documents. Pickens also provided investigators with surveillance footage that showed Taylor 'wandering around the neighborhood for an extended period, attempting to open the screen door of the residence, walking away, and later returning,' according to court documents. Pickens could be seen next to his car with his gun drawn, telling Taylor to back up as he approached the driver's side. That's when Pickens shot Taylor, according to court documents. Indiana's 'stand your ground' law indicates deadly force can be justified in cases where there is reasonable belief that force would be necessary for homeowners to defend themselves on their own property. But police said in court documents that Pickens' actions were not justified, and noted there was no evidence that Taylor was armed with a weapon. 'Based upon the investigation, Pickens knowingly armed himself and voluntarily exited the safety of his residence to confront Taylor,' a detective explained in court documents. 'During that confrontation, Pickens intentionally discharged a loaded firearm, striking Taylor in the chest and causing his death. Under these circumstances, there is probable cause to believe Pickens recklessly killed Khadolphee D. Taylor by engaging in conduct constituting a plain, conscious, and unjustifiable disregard of harm, the disregard involving a substantial deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.' Pickens was booked in the Allen County Jail Monday. He's being held without bond.