Former JC man died in homicide suicide

FORT WAYNE — A former Jay County man died Saturday in what has been ruled a homicide-suicide.

Levi W. Long, 22, Fort Wayne, a former resident of Jay County, died Saturday morning following a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head Friday morning, the Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne) reported.

Hannah Stailey, 18, Harlan, died of a gunshot wound Friday morning.

The Journal Gazette reports Allen County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to Oak Crossing Apartments, 10501 Day Lily Drive, Fort Wayne, on Friday morning on report of suicide threats. Stailey was pronounced dead at the scene on the third floor of the apartment complex. Allen County coroner Jon Brandenberger ruled her death a homicide.

Long was transported to a Fort Wayne hospital with life-threatening injuries and died the next day, the newspaper said. His death was ruled a suicide.

Long had been scheduled to appear in Allen County Superior Court 6 on Friday for a pretrial conference stemming from August 2020 charges of rape, a Level 3 felony, and sexual battery, a Level 6 felony. His trial had been scheduled to start Sept. 14.

Long spent his freshman and sophomore years at Jay County High School before transferring to Norwell. He played baseball for the Patriots and later for the Portland Rockets.

Stailey was a 2021 Woodlan High School graduate who played soccer for the Warriors. Her funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Grabill Missionary Church.

Service information for Long was not available at press time.