In Fort Wayne, Indiana, a man is about to spend the next century behind bars after being sentenced for murder. Nicholas Steward, 25, received a hefty 117-year prison sentence on Friday for the tragic death of a 23-year-old woman last year.
Steward was found guilty back in June on multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, and criminal recklessness, with an added firearm enhancement. The shooting incident, which occurred during a party in June on Greentree Court, not only led to the death of Mattie Wilson but also left two other individuals with serious injuries.
He initially faced various charges, including two counts of aggravated battery and using a deadly weapon, before more serious charges were eventually laid after an investigation. Steward was arrested in August 2023.
Court documents shed light on the details, revealing that an anonymous source had tipped off police by sending them a Snapchat video showing Steward with a firearm prior to the shooting. Altogether, eight witnesses and four victims came forward to share their accounts of that fateful night.
On the day of the tragic event, police recovered 9mm shell casings that were linked to a gun owned by Ranadda Ganaway, who was later charged for helping Steward after the incident by falsely reporting her firearm as stolen. In September 2023, Ganaway took a plea deal regarding her involvement, pleading guilty to assisting a criminal related to the murder, while an additional charge of false informing was dismissed. She is currently serving three years of probation.
During the police investigation, Steward explained that he felt threatened by one of the victims and fired his weapon in a panic, believing that he might have hit Wilson. Steward expressed remorse, admitting that he anticipated this day would come and acknowledged his responsibility for the outcome.
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