What was reported
Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull sentenced Cameron Kizer Jr. on Friday, October 30, 2026, to the maximum 85 years for the fatal shooting of Jathen Allen Maxwell, 20, according to 21Alive[1] and The Journal Gazette[2]. The shooting happened on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in the 3900 block of Warsaw Street in Fort Wayne.
The outlets reported that Kizer posted “head shot” to social media after the shooting. The Fort Wayne Police Department investigated the case. The sentence resolves the criminal case in Allen Superior Court.
What families should do next
When your family loses someone to violence, you may face several practical and legal decisions at once. Keep copies of the coroner's records, funeral bills, court documents, and any restitution orders. Victim assistance staff at the prosecutor's office can explain what happens after sentencing.
It can also help to organize the records you would take to a first personal injury consultation. A criminal sentence and a civil wrongful death claim are separate matters, so you should not assume that the criminal case protects a civil filing deadline.
Why location and deadlines matter
This shooting happened in Fort Wayne, in Allen County, and the case was heard in Allen Superior Court. A civil case is usually filed in the county where the death happened or where a defendant lives.
Indiana wrongful death claims are governed by Ind. Code 34-23-1-1. Most claims must be filed within two years under Ind. Code 34-11-2-4, and that deadline usually runs from the death, not from the end of the criminal case. Families can read more about the Indiana wrongful death filing deadline. Indiana divides fault among those involved under Ind. Code 34-51-2-6.
A criminal conviction or sentence does not automatically decide every issue in a civil case. Evidence, available insurance, responsible parties, damages, and filing deadlines still require a separate review.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a personal injury law firm in Fort Wayne founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps families in Allen County and across Indiana who have lost someone because of another person's wrongful conduct. You can learn about the firm's wrongful death practice or request a free case evaluation. Chad Delventhal can explain how Indiana wrongful death claims work and which deadlines may apply. No outcome can be promised in any case.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation or related proceedings may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
