Fort Wayne Woman Sentenced

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A Fort Wayne woman who hosted a house party during Halloween last year that resulted in a mass shooting and the death of a high school student will serve no jail time following a plea deal.

Allen County court records show that 43-year-old Joanna Eastes received a sentence of more than two years with all of it suspended. She will now be placed on probation for two and a half years.

Eastes originally faced a felony neglect charge along with two misdemeanors. As part of the plea agreement, the misdemeanor charges were dismissed.

Authorities said about 100 people were at the Halloween party with many of them likely being underage. A flyer on social media for the party also encouraged attendees to bring alcohol and marijuana.

At one point, police said Willie Ivy III, a student of North Side High School, and a group of people forced themselves into the party. During an altercation, Ivy began firing off shots that ended up injuring nine people ages 14-20. Then, another person fired back at Ivy in self-defense. Ivy died from his injuries.

According to police, Eastes said she didn’t know how to handle the party when it got out of hand so she locked herself in her bedroom.