Indianapolis FedEx Shooting Suspect Used 2 Rifles He Purchased Legally: Police

Janita Kan
By Janita Kan
April 18, 2021US News
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Indianapolis FedEx Shooting Suspect Used 2 Rifles He Purchased Legally: Police
Brandon Scott Hole. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

Brandon Scott Hole, the suspect in the FedEx shooting in Indianapolis, used two rifles that he had purchased legally last year, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in an update on Saturday.

“During Thursday’s incident, the suspect, Brandon Hole, was witnessed using assault rifles in the assault. ATF conducted a trace on the two weapons,” police said. “IMPD learned that Brandon Hole purchased the rifles legally in July and September of 2020.”

Hole, 19, allegedly opened fire at a FedEx facility, near the Indianapolis Airport, claiming eight lives, police said. Authorities say Hole was a former employee of the facility and last worked at FedEx in 2020. They said they were not aware of Hole’s reason for leaving employment or whether he had tied with any other employee.

About 100 employees were present at the facility when the shooting occurred, police said.

Earlier on Saturday, authorities identified the victims as Matthew Alexander, 32, Samaria Blackwell, 19, Amarjeet Johal, 66, Jaswinder Kaur, 64, Jaswinder Singh, 68, Amarjit Sekhon, 48, Karli Smith, 19, and John Weisert, 74.

FedEx Mass Shooting in Indianapolis
Investigators are on the scene following a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 16, 2021. (Michelle Pemberton-USA Today Network via Reuters)

Local media reported that four members of the Sikhs community were killed in the incident, prompting some voices in the community to call for the investigation into the possibility of bias as a motivator in the shooting.

This comes after the FBI revealed that Hole’s mother had alerted agents that her son might try to commit “suicide by cop,” or force police officers to shoot him. FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said in a statement to media outlets that Hole was placed on immediate detention mental health temporary hold by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and a shotgun was seized at his home.

Keenan also said agents interviewed Hole in April 2020 but found no criminal violation, and no racially motivated violent extremism evidence.

Hole’s family issued a statement on Saturday where they apologized for the incident. They also said they had tried to get the 19-year-old the help he needed.

“We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandon’s actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed,” the statement obtained by the Indy Star reads. “Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy. We are so sorry for the pain and hurt being felt by their families and the entire Indianapolis community.”

The shooting comes about a month after a mass shooting at a Colorado supermarket claimed the lives of 10 victims.

From The Epoch Times

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