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

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’

The vehicle was later extinguished after the driver, covered in flames, emerged from the vehicle.

Amsterdam Dam Square car explosion sees driver engulfed in flames - just days after mass stabbing

d

Pictured: US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for world's most isolated tribe

The Sentinelese are a pre-Neolithic tribe that rejects contact with the modern world

US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for the world's most isolated tribe to try

The Trump administration has been ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

'No one is safe, not even the penguins': Trump administration ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

World leaders react to US tariffs

'This is not the act of a friend': World leaders react to Trump's 'unwarranted' tariffs

British couple

British couple found dead in New Zealand named - as police probe possible murder-suicide

Virginia Giuffre said she had been left with 'four days to life' after the crash

Bus driver breaks silence on Virginia Giuffre crash that left her 'with four days to live'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy

David Lammy to urge Nato allies to increase defence spending in bid to make alliance 'stronger, fairer and more lethal'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

EU threatens further countermeasures against US tariffs after 'major blow to world economy'

Lord Sugar labels Trump tariffs 'a disaster' as Apprentice star teases potential US Presidential meeting

Lord Sugar labels Trump tariffs 'a disaster' and warns that the president 'hasn't thought it through'

Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations in Gaza

Israel expands ground attack on Gaza to seize 'large areas' - despite pleas from hostage families

Police said two people died on Palliser Road, Roseneath.

British couple found dead at home in New Zealand - just months after moving to 'begin new chapter'

Virginia Giuffre warned it was a "very bad situation" after she claimed a school bus ploughed into her car

Virginia Giuffre was charged with breaching restraining order days before crash that 'left her with days to live'