Gunman who killed 8 at FedEx facility in Indianapolis was a former employee
INDIANAPOLIS >> The 19-year-old gunman who killed eight people and injured seven others at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis late Thursday was a former employee of the company whose mother had warned law enforcement officials last year that he might try to commit “suicide by cop,” officials said.
The news that the gunman had a previous encounter with law enforcement — including the seizure of a gun from him last year — punctuated a day of suspense and grief Friday. As families waited throughout the day for updates on victims who had not yet been publicly identified, the nation reeled from the latest mass shooting in a matter of weeks.
The gunman, who authorities said was armed with a rifle during the attack and later killed himself, had been interviewed by federal agents in April of last year, said Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Indianapolis.
After the teenager’s mother reported him to law enforcement in March 2020, authorities launched an investigation and put him on an “immediate detention mental health temporary hold,” Keenan said in a statement. He was not charged with a crime.
“The shotgun was not returned to the suspect,” Keenan said.
“This is another heartbreaking day and I’m shaken by the mass shooting at the FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis.” — Eric Holcomb, governor of Indiana
A law enforcement official, requesting anonymity, identified the suspect as Brandon Scott Hole.
As families waited for word of their loved ones, reports emerged that the FedEx facility was the workplace for many Sikh employees, some of whom were among the dead.
“We are sad to confirm that at least four of those killed in Thursday night’s attacks are members of the Indianapolis Sikh community,” the Sikh Coalition, a national nonprofit organization, said on Twitter.
Two of the victims, Jasvinder Kaur, 50, and Amarjit Sekhon, 49, commuted to work at the FedEx facility together, said Rimpi Girn, a family member. Kaur was the mother of Girn’s sisterin-law and moved to the United States from India three years ago. Sekhon, who was Girn’s aunt, moved to Indianapolis from Ohio to be closer to family.
The violence in Indianapolis comes only weeks after back-to-back mass shootings last month at spas in the Atlanta area and at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, renewing pressure on lawmakers in Washington to address America’s deep-seated problem with gun violence.
Officials used a common word — “another” — to define the tragedy.
“This is another heartbreaking day and I’m shaken by the mass shooting at the FedEx Ground facility in In
dianapolis,” Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana said.
Mayor Joe Hogsett of Indianapolis condemned the “horrific news of yet another mass shooting, an act
of violence that senselessly claimed the lives of eight of our neighbors.”
President Joe Biden, speaking at a news conference with the prime minister
of Japan, expressed support for stronger gun control measures, including universal background checks and an assault weapon ban, but said it was up to Senate Republicans to take up legislation.
“This has to end,” he said, condemning mass shootings and daily gun violence in the United States. “It is a national embarrassment.”
“Who in God’s name needs a weapon that can hold a hundred rounds? Or 40 rounds? Or 20 rounds?” he said, referring to the military-style weapons often used in such attacks. “It’s just wrong. And I’m not going to give up until it’s done. “
Hole last worked at the FedEx facility in 2020, perhaps as recently as the fall of last year, said Deputy Chief Craig McCartt of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. He said he did not know why Hole stopped working there and FedEx referred questions to the Indianapolis police.
Authorities described a chaotic scene at the FedEx facility late Thursday, when gunfire erupted about 11 p.m.
Hole arrived at the facility and quickly started shooting in the parking lot without an immediate confrontation, officials said.
“He just appeared to randomly start shooting,” said McCartt, who said there were at least 100 people at the location at the time, including many who were changing shifts and on their dinner break.
He continued shooting inside the building and at least eight people were fatally shot, authorities said.
Five others were taken to the hospital with gunshot or shrapnel wounds, including one in critical condition who was expected to survive, authorities said. Two others were treated at the scene and released.
An employee at the facility said 11 p.m. is a time when employees typically take a break and many relax in the parking lot.
“Most go to their cars to listen to music, smoke a cigarette, eat some food,” said employee, D.J. Boyles, 23, who said he has worked as a package handler there for almost five years.
Kamal Jawandha, who said his parents both worked at the facility and were there at the time of the shooting, said his father was bringing his mother food and getting ready to go inside when the shooting started. His mother hid in the bathroom.
“She’s in deep sadness,” he said of his mother. “She could not sleep. She just can’t stop shaking.”
She can’t believe this kind of thing would happen here.”