Police Determine Shooting at Indianapolis FedEx Was Not Racially Motivated

By Alyssa Wilson Published: July 29, 2021

Police Determine Shooting at Indianapolis FedEx Was Not Racially Motivated

Police identified 19-year-old Brandon Hole as the shooter who killed eight people before killing himself at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. (Photo Credit: Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department)

By: Alyssa Wilson

WARNING: This story contains details that some viewers may find disturbing.

Authorities have determined the former FedEx employee who shot and killed people at an Indianapolis warehouse in April was not “racially or ethnically motivated.”

During a press conference, Indianapolis police and federal authorities said 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole attacked the facility on April 15 as an act of “suicidal murder.” They also believed he would “demonstrate his masculinity and capability” while fulfilling his desire to experience killing people, according to the Associated Press.

Police said Hole considered other locations, but chose the FedEx building because he was familiar with it and he believed it would give him access to a large number of victims. “He knew the location well,” FBI special agent Paul Keenan said. “He knew there would be a large group of people there that he would consider targets.”

Keenan also said Hole had suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide on “more than one occasion.” Despite his struggles with mental health, he had not been diagnosed with a mental illness and did not share his plans of the shooting with anyone. The guns he used were legally purchased despite his mother calling the police one year prior, saying he might try to die by “suicide by cop.”

The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit determined he was viewing “World War II, Nazi-like propaganda”, but they ruled he did not appear to have been motivated by bias or desire to advance that ideology. Keenan said, “There was no indication that there was any animosity towards the Sikh community, or any other group for that matter.”

Amrith Kaur, the legal director of the Sikh Coalition, said she’s disappointed police did not release additional information about how they came to the conclusion. “Though law enforcement has said this investigation is over, for all the families who lost loved ones, the survivors, the Sikh community, and anyone else impacted by hate violence, these questions will remain forever,” she said.

If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma triggered by this story, please see a list of resources here.