FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WISH) — Fort Wayne police on Monday afternoon fatally shot a man, who was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis, after he displayed a rifle to officers, the police chief said in a news release. The man’s name was not publicly shared in the release, which said th e Allen County Coroner’s Office will release his name after contacting his next of kin. Officers were called just before 2:15 p.m. Monday to a home in the 1800 block of Howell Avenue. That’s in a residential area southwest of downtown. It was at least the third time police had interacted with the man “in the last several days,” Chief Paul Smith’s release said. Police and other specialized teams tried to communicate with the man, but “they were only able to hear an open line with incoherent mumbling,” the release said. Several officers fired at the man as he opened the front door and pushed what appeared to be the long gun out toward officers, the release said. The chief said the Indiana State Police will handle the investigation of the police shooting, a standard practice in Fort Wayne. The officers involved will be placed on administrative leave, which is also standard procedure. Smith said in the release, “I want to emphasize that this was a prolonged incident in which officers and crisis personnel made repeated attempts to communicate with this individual and de-escalate the situation. Our goal from the beginning was a peaceful resolution. Unfortunately, the situation escalated when the individual presented a rifle toward officers.” Mental health resources Wellness Council of Indiana Indiana Suicide Prevention Indiana Department of Child Services’ Children’s Mental Health Initiative National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 or 800-273-8255 More resources ...read more read less