Eight killed in FedEx shooting: Suspect had ‘no confrontation with anyone,’ police said

(INDIANAPOLIS) — Eight people were shot and killed and several others were injured in a mass shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis Thursday night, according to authorities.

The suspect was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Craig McCartt, deputy chief of Criminal Investigations at Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said at a Friday news conference.

When officers arrived at the FedEx facility near the Indianapolis airport just after 11 p.m., they found a “chaotic and active crime scene,” McCartt said.

“This suspect came to the facility … he got out of his car and pretty quickly started some random shooting outside the facility. There was no confrontation with anyone,” McCartt said. “That began in the parking lot and then he did go into the building.”

Four victims were found outside and four were inside, police said.

Five people were transported from the scene, McCartt said. Four of those people suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds, he said.

Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, said “with less than 12 hours since the shooting, it would be premature to speculate” on a motive.

Police said they believe the suspect had a rifle.

The names of the victims have not been released.

“We’ve all been shaken by this heinous act,” Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Randal Taylor said at Friday’s news conference.

The police chief called FedEx a major employer for the city. This FedEx location is the second-largest FedEx Express Hub in the world, according to an internal briefing from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The largest hub is in Memphis.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a statement Friday, “This morning, Indianapolis residents are confronted with the horrific news of yet another mass shooting, an act of violence that senselessly claimed the lives of eight of our neighbors.”

“As law enforcement works to learn more about this tragedy, our prayers are with the families of those whose lives were cut short,” Hogsett said.

The mayor said at the Friday news conference, “We must guard against resignation or even despair. The assumption that this is simply how it must be and we might as well get used to it — we need the courage that compels courageous acts that push past weariness.”

FedEx said in a statement Friday morning, “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our team members following the tragic shooting at our FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis.”

“Our most heartfelt sympathies are with all those affected by this senseless act of violence. The safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with investigating authorities,” FedEx said.

President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her Friday briefing.

“The president has spent his entire career working to address gun violence, and his determination to act has been redoubled by senseless killings we’ve seen both in mass shootings like this, and in the lives lost to the epidemic of gun violence every single day in communities across our country,” Psaki said.

“We can’t afford to wait as innocent lives are taken,” she said.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday, “Yet again, we have families in our country that are grieving the loss of their family members because of gun violence.”

“There is no question that this violence must end,” she said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been briefed, according to a senior Justice Department official.

The police chief called FedEx a major employer for the city. This FedEx location is the second-largest FedEx Express Hub in the world, according to an internal briefing from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The largest hub is in Memphis.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a statement Friday, “This morning, Indianapolis residents are confronted with the horrific news of yet another mass shooting, an act of violence that senselessly claimed the lives of eight of our neighbors.”

“As law enforcement works to learn more about this tragedy, our prayers are with the families of those whose lives were cut short,” Hogsett said.

The mayor said at the Friday news conference, “We must guard against resignation or even despair. The assumption that this is simply how it must be and we might as well get used to it — we need the courage that compels courageous acts that push past weariness.”

FedEx said in a statement Friday morning, “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our team members following the tragic shooting at our FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis.”

“Our most heartfelt sympathies are with all those affected by this senseless act of violence. The safety of our team members is our top priority, and we are fully cooperating with investigating authorities,” FedEx said.

President Joe Biden had been briefed on the shooting, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her Friday briefing.

“The president has spent his entire career working to address gun violence, and his determination to act has been redoubled by senseless killings we’ve seen both in mass shootings like this, and in the lives lost to the epidemic of gun violence every single day in communities across our country,” Psaki said.

“We can’t afford to wait as innocent lives are taken,” she said.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday, “Yet again, we have families in our country that are grieving the loss of their family members because of gun violence.”

“There is no question that this violence must end,” she said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has also been briefed, according to a senior Justice Department official.

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