Families of FedEx shooting victims file lawsuit nearly a year after fatal shooting at Indianapolis facility

By Jenn Selva, CNN

The families of five of the eight people killed in a shooting at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis last year have filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging wrongful death and negligence.

According to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, plaintiffs say FedEx could have prevented the incident and failed to implement adequate security measures, including security personnel. properly trained.

Defendants had a duty to ensure that appropriate and reasonable policies, procedures, guidelines and training were in place to warn and then take reasonable steps to protect employees and others lawfully present at the scene of a dangerous condition or situation, including an active shooter, on the spot,” the suit reads.

Eight people were killed and several others injured when former employee Brandon Hole, 19, opened fire on a FedEx Ground facility around 11 p.m. on April 15, 2021, police said. Hole later took his own life, officials said.

The plaintiffs seek compensation in the form of unspecified damages and a jury trial, according to the lawsuit.

“During his (Hole’s) employment with FedEx Ground from approximately August 2020 to October 2020, Hole exhibited emotional and mental instability on several occasions which would have led an ordinary, reasonable person or employer to believe that Hole was potentially violent and/or dangerous to himself and others,” the lawsuit states.

In a statement, FedEx told CNN it is aware of the lawsuit and will look into the allegations.

“We continue to mourn the loss of our team members in the senseless tragedy that occurred nearly a year ago,” the statement read.

“FedEx Ground’s top priority is the safety of our team, and we have provided and continue to provide support in multiple ways to those affected, including 24/7 Employee Assistance Programs, as well as the establishment of the Indianapolis 4/15 Survivors Fund in coordination with the National Compassionate Fund.

Securitas Security Services USA, a security company hired by FedEx, according to the lawsuit, is also named in the claim.

The lawsuit says FedEx and Securitas were aware of similar active shooting events that occurred at other facilities and failed to properly train their security guards to deal with the threat.

The lawsuit alleges that Securitas and its security guards failed to secure the entrances to the building when Hole first came into contact with them, after he could be seen walking from his car and discharging his firearm. .

In response to CNN’s request for comment, a company spokesperson said Securitas USA does not comment on ongoing litigation.

Shooter not a disgruntled employee, investigators say

In July of last year, representatives from the police, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana said their investigation revealed it did not appear Hole was a disgruntled former employee or that he had been motivated by prejudice or the desire to advance an ideology.

According to then-acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, John Childress, the shooter was motivated by “a desire to commit murder-suicide exacerbated by personal mental health issues.”

No evidence was found to indicate Hole was unhappy at work, according to Craig McCartt, deputy chief of investigations for the Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

“There was really no indication that he had a problem with FedEx, speaking with other employees and FedEx staff,” McCartt said. “He just stopped showing up for work, so he lost his job just by not showing up.”

“Only the shooter knows all the reasons why he committed this horrible act of violence,” said Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s office in Indianapolis.

“However, at this time, the FBI is satisfied that, based on the evidence gathered, the Behavioral Analysis Unit’s assessment is accurate and that the shooter does not appear to be motivated by bias or desire. to advance an ideology,” Keenan said. .

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the FBI, the Acting U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms and explosives were all involved in the investigation, Indianapolis police said.

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