Eight people were killed during a mass shooting at the FedEx Ground Plainfield Operations Center late Thursday, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Genae Cook.
The victims were found dead at the scene, Cook said during a briefing after 3 a.m. Friday. The dead had injuries consistent with gunshot wounds.
“We are being made aware of multiple other people with injuries who have been transported to local hospitals or who have transported themselves to local hospitals,” she said.
Four people were transported by ambulance, with one in critical condition with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. Three others were transported with various other injuries, according to police. Two people were treated at the scene and released. Multiple others walked into different local hospitals.
“This is a tragedy,” Cook said.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Craig McCartt told reporters at a morning press conference that investigators had “an idea” who the gunman was — and he was later identified as Brandon Scott Hole, a 19-year-old Indianapolis resident.
Police officials said Hole was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after the carnage and had used some type of rifle to carry out the killings.
“By the time officers entered [the building], the situation was over. The suspect took his own life very shortly before officers entered the facility,” said McCartt, adding that the gunfire only lasted “a couple of minutes.”
He said that when officers first arrived on scene, they found a “very chaotic and active crime scene.”
The deputy chief could not say whether the shooter was a FedEx employee.
Eight people died in the shooting spree that also left five others injured. The wounded are expected to survive.
“He just appeared to randomly start shooting, and that began in the parking lot, and he did go into the facility for a brief period of time before he took his own life,” McCartt said of the killer.
The deputy chief said the investigation is still in its “infancy.”
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to 8951 Mirabel Road on a report of shots fired just after 11 p.m. Thursday.
When they arrived, they found an “active shooter incident,” Cook said.
No law enforcement officers were injured, she said. Police were still working to make identify the deceased and notify their families.
“It is very heartbreaking …,” Cook said. “The officers responded. They came in. They went in, and they did their job. And a lot of them are trying to face this because this is a sight that no one should ever have to see.”
FedEx released a statement after 1:30 a.m. Friday.
“We are aware of the tragic shooting at our FedEx Ground facility near the Indianapolis airport,” the company said. “Safety is our top priority, and our thoughts are with all those who are affected. We are working to gather more information and are cooperating with investigating authorities.”
This is an excerpt from the New York Post.
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