Was Indianapolis FedEx shooting a hate crime against Sikhs? Here are 8 victims killed by Brandon Scott Hole
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a shooting at a FedEx warehouse near Indianapolis Airport, according to the law enforcement authority. The gunman, Bradon Hole, was a former employee and began shooting “randomly” almost immediately after exiting his car, according to police. No motive has been established yet.
Four members of the Sikh Community, three women and one man, were among the people who lost their lives in the incident, Reuters reported. A tweet by a law student named Komal Chohan said one of the victims of the shooting was her grandmother Amarjeet Kaur Johal.
she was gonna work a double so she could have the day off today but decided to just grab her check and go home. she still had her check in her hand when they found her. this other guy tht just moved from India just got his first paycheck. what a harsh and cruel world we live in.
— Komal (@yourlawyerkomal) April 16, 2021
Meanwhile, authorities on Friday released the identities of those killed in the shooting. Law enforcement officials identified the victims as Matthew R Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jasvinder Kaur, 64; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Amarjit Skhon, 48; Karlie Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.
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Since the news of four members of the Sikh religious community getting killed in the mass shooting has surfaced online, many believed that it might be another incident of hate crime.
Social media users were quick to point out that the shooter knew about the people working at the FedEx facility and allegedly targeted them because of the religion they belonged to. One user said, “This was a targeted hate crime. The majority of the employees at that facility were Sikh. This guy, an ex-employee, knew that. The fact that they won’t release his picture should tell you all that you need to know.”
This was a targeted hate crime. Majority of the employees at that facility were Sikh. This guy, an ex employee, new that. The fact that they won’t release his picture should tell you all that you need to know.
— Monica Gill (@Monica_Gill1) April 16, 2021
Another user noted, “The 8 lives lost were taken by a 19-year-old, Caucasian, former-employee. He was aware of the Sikh demographic at this FedEx location. This was a hate crime towards the Sikh community.” Meanwhile, another one shared, “That FedEx facility in Indianapolis is a workplace with over 90% Sikh employees. Don’t you dare say the mass shooting was attributed to a “mental illness”. It was hatred. It was racism. And it was targeted.”
The 8 lives lost were taken by a 19 year old, Caucasian, former-employee. He was aware of the Sikh demographic at this Fedex location. This was a hate crime towards the Sikh community.
— rumneek kaur (@rumneekkk) April 16, 2021
Mahraj apne charana ch niwas baskhan ina nirdoshan nu🤍🕊
That FedEx facility in Indianapolis is a workplace with over 90% Sikh employees. Don’t you dare say the mass shooting was attributed to a “mental illness”. It was hatred. It was racism. And it was targeted.
— Prabh Dhillon (@prbdlln) April 16, 2021
“We can’t go to the gurdwara without fearing for our lives. We can’t go to work without fearing for our lives. That FedEx facility employed many members of the Punjabi Sikh community. You can’t tell me this attack wasn’t racially motivated,” one user said. Another user noticed, “Highlighting the fact that BRANDON SCOTT HOLE, 19, was a former employee - he would know exactly who works there - Sikhs - and when he could do the most damage. Don't tell me it wasn't anti-Sikh.”
We can’t go to the gurdwara without fearing for our lives.
— lil patience (@kaurtier) April 16, 2021
We can’t go to work without fearing for our lives.
That Fedex facility employeed many members of the Punjabi Sikh community. You can’t tell me this attack wasn’t racially motivated.
Highlighting the fact that BRANDON SCOTT HOLE, 19, was a former employee - he would know exactly who works there - Sikhs - and when he could do most damage. Don't tell me it wasn't anti-sikh
— Amrit Kaur (@Amritkaur_bx) April 16, 2021
On the other hand, popular poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur also expressed her disappointment in the incident and said the news of another “mass shooting” is completely horrifying and truly breaks her heart. She wrote, “There are no words. the news out of Indianapolis—of yet another mass shooting—is horrific. So many of these targeted workers were Punjabi Sikh immigrants who’d recently moved to the area breaks my heart. Love to all the families. Love to the community.”
there are no words. the news out of indianapolis—of yet another mass shooting—is horrific. that so many of these targeted workers were punjabi sikh immigrants who’d recently moved to the area breaks my heart. love to all the families. love to the community. 😔💔 https://t.co/qaGQlSTWng
— rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) April 16, 2021
What happened in Indianapolis?
The incident took place at a FedEx Operations Center near Indianapolis International Airport after 11 pm, police said. It lasted only a couple of minutes and was over by the time police responded to the scene. The gunman killed himself after taking eight innocent lives. It is also being reported that the former FedEx employee has a history of mental illness.
