At least eight slain at Indianapolis FedEx facility in latest U.S. mass shooting

A gunman killed at least eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis and wounded several others before taking his own life, police said early on Friday, in the latest in a rash of mass shootings across the United States in recent weeks.

At least 30 people have been killed in U.S. mass shootings in the last month alone, reigniting a fiery debate over gun violence and the U.S. constitutional right to bear arms as the country struggles to emerge from a lingering coronavirus pandemic.

The rampage unfolded at a FedEx operations centre near the Indianapolis International Airport after 11 p.m. local time on Thursday night.

A worker at the air freight facility told local television station WRTV that he was eating when he heard what sounded like "two loud metal clangs" followed by more shots.

"Somebody went behind their car to the trunk and then got another gun," he said, adding: "Then I saw one body on the floor."

Another FedEx employee, Levi Miller, told NBC's "Today Show" he saw a "hooded figure" holding what appeared to be an AR-style semi-automatic rifle who shouted and opened fire outside the facility.

"I thought he saw me, and so I immediately ducked for cover," he said.

Indianapolis police spokeswoman Genae Cook told local reporters the authorities had "arrived to an active shooter incident."

"Preliminary information is that the alleged shooter has taken his own life here at the scene," she said.

Five people were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, while "multiple" others walked into hospitals nearby, police said. Two more were treated at the facility itself by medical staff and released.

One of the people taken to a hospital was in critical condition, Cook said.

A White House official said President Joe Biden will be briefed on the shooting on Friday morning.

Earlier in April, President Joe Biden announced limited measures to tackle gun violence that included a crackdown on self-assembled “ghost guns.” He has also called on Congress to enact more stringent gun control measures, but such limits face fierce opposition from many Republicans.

The Indianapolis police department's deputy chief, Craig McCartt, told CNN that police did not fire any shots in the incident.

In a statement, FedEx said, "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our team members." It was not immediately clear if all of the victims were employees of the company.

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

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb said he would order flags lowered to half-staff until Tuesday.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett wrote on Twitter early on 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.”






Source: BBC
Image Source: Reuters