FedEx gunman legally bought rifles despite red flag laws – US police

18 April 2021, 21:24

FedEx Shooting Indianapolis
FedEx Shooting Indianapolis. Picture: PA

Brandon Hole shot dead eight people, four of them from the city’s Sikh community, at the FedEx facility before killing himself.

The former employee who shot dead eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis legally bought the two rifles used in the attack despite red flag laws designed to prevent such purchases, police said.

A trace of the two guns found by investigators at the scene revealed that suspect Brandon Hole, 19, of Indianapolis, legally bought the rifles last July and September, officials with the Indianapolis police said.

The police did not say where Hole bought the weapons, citing the ongoing investigation, but said he was seen using both rifles during the assault.

Authorities said Hole shot dead eight people, four of them from the city’s Sikh community, at the FedEx facility late on Thursday before killing himself.

FedEx Shooting Indianapolis
Todd Young visited the Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis (AJ Mast/AP)

The FBI said agents had questioned Hole last year after his mother called police to say her son might commit “suicide by cop”.

Officers seized a pump-action shotgun from Hole’s home after responding to the call, according to a police report. Police said the gun was never returned to him.

Republican Senator Todd Young called for more mental health services across all levels of government.

“We know that we have a Hoosier family who cried out for help, knowing they had a child who required mental health treatment.

“We know we have members of our law enforcement community who, for a period of time, responded to that call for help. And we know that in the end, that wasn’t enough,” he told The Associated Press before addressing a gathering at the Gurdwara Sikh Satsang, a Sikh house of worship on the east side of Indianapolis.

FedEx Shooting Indianapolis
Members gather at the Sikh Satsang to mourn those killed (Michael Conroy/PA)

Mr Young questioned whether Indiana’s red flag laws “were actually enforced” to prevent the shooting.

Indiana has had a “red flag law” allowing police or courts to seize guns from people who show warning signs of violence since 2005.

It became one of the first states to enact such a law after an Indianapolis police officer was killed by a man whose weapons had to be returned despite being admitted to hospital months earlier for an emergency mental health evaluation.

The law is intended to prevent people from purchasing or possessing a firearm if they are found by a judge to present “an imminent risk” to themselves or others.

Authorities have two weeks after seizing someone’s weapon to argue in court that the person should not be allowed to possess a gun.

Officials have not said whether a Hole’s case was brought before a judge.

Michael Leffler, a spokesman for the Marion County Prosecutor, said on Sunday that the office is “looking into this matter”.

If Hole had a court hearing and prevailed, state law indicates the shotgun would have been returned to him.

If a judge ruled him dangerous or incompetent, however, he should have been barred from buying another gun.

FedEx Shooting Indianapolis
A single bouquet of flower sits in the rocks across the street from the FedEx facility (Michael Conroy/AP)

Gaganpal Dhaliwal, a member of the Sikh community who also spoke at the gathering on Sunday, added that victims’ families want to see “common sense gun laws” and stricter hate crime policies.

“This shooter had a shotgun confiscated, but he was still able to get his hands on rifles,” Mr Dhaliwal said. “We need to make sure that guns don’t end up in the wrong hands.”

Mr Dhaliwal also called for roughly two dozen fast-tracked visas from the US and Indian governments to allow relatives to travel for funeral ceremonies that will take place in the next two weeks, he said.

Hole was a former employee at the FedEx facility who left his job last year, police said. Authorities have not yet announced a possible motive for the attack.

Hole’s family said in a statement they are “so sorry for the pain and hurt” his actions caused.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Video footage shows the convoy had emergency lights flashing when it was hit

Israel admits ‘mistakenly’ killing 15 aid workers after video leak contradicted official version of events

Jaguar Land Rover has paused shipments to the US in the wake of 'Liberation Day' tariffs

Jaguar Land Rover halts shipments to US in wake of tariffs as Trump insists he'll win 'economic revolution'

Flowers and toys left on a swing seat to commemorate victims killed in Russia's missile attack on Friday

Death toll from Russian strike on Zelenskyy's home town rises as 18 confirmed dead - including nine children

Donald Trump's 10% tariff on UK products has officially come into force

Trump tariffs come into force as global stock markets plunge deeper into the red

Tom Howard

British tourist killed after being struck by boulder on trek through Himalayas

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a car burns following a Russian missile attack that killed more than a dozen people, including children, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia kills 16 people including three children in missile strike on Zelenskyy's home town, with dozens wounded

Travel influencer Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, made an illegal visit to North Sentinel Island

Tourist who left Coke for world's most isolated tribe 'could have wiped them all out' - and police 'can't go collect can'

White House weighs in to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

White House looking to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

This image provided by NASA shows Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

Stranded NASA astronauts reveal they were almost trapped in space 'forever' after horror malfunction

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen'

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen' after far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement in 'witch hunt'

China will impose a 34% retaliatory tariff on imports from the US

China announces additional 34% tariffs on US imports in retaliation over Trump's 'Liberation Day' levies

Friends of Prince Andrew say he's "unsurprised" Giuffre made the post

Prince Andrew 'not surprised' his accuser shared shock post saying she had 'four days to live'

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office as impeachment upheld over martial law declaration

Virginia Giuffre

Woman driving Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre during crash that left her with 'four days to live' breaks silence

Exclusive
'Donald Trump has made Putin comfortable,' Mikhail Khodorkovsky has warned

'Trump has made Putin comfortable' despite massive Ukraine war losses, exiled former oligarch tells LBC

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour.

British couple found dead in south of France home being ‘treated as murder-suicide’