ICHRA
FedEx shooting Indianapolis: Questions Remain Unanswered for Sikhs
Image Credits: Lukas Flippo/IndyStar
July 30, 2021
New York, NY
On July 28, 2021, the Indianapolis Police Department and local FBI publicly reported it had concluded its investigation of the April 15, 2021 mass shooting at a FedEx facility. This senseless shooting left 8 innocent people dead, 4 of whom were Sikh. At a press conference, law officials concluded that there was “no indication of racial bias” and that the shooting was “an act of suicidal murder.” While the local authorities have concluded their investigations, it is not concluded for the Sikh community. There are still many unanswered questions for Sikhs.
The FBI relies on the findings of the BAU — the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. Special Agent Paul Keegan provided the conclusions that they did not find any evidence of bias and no evidence of anti-Sikh sentiment. Mr. Keegan also stated that the shooter chose the FedEx location because the shooter was “familiar with its layout and thought he could gain entry to the facility.”
“We are all let down when an investigation of a hate crime fails to answer questions about why these incidents continue to happen to members of the Sikh community.” stated Manvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS Advocacy Director.
Authorities also did not disclose what changes would be made to a system that allowed someone whose shotgun had been confiscated by the police for a credible concern of a safety issue to purchase new firearms.
“The Sikh community deserves more from leadership at the DOJ and from the Indianapolis Police. Their response nowhere speaks to what changes will be implemented to a system that is broken.
It’s also true that if our leaders fail to act decisively to eradicate the problem, law enforcement’s hands are tied. In this environment, Sikhs and other minorities will continue to be the targets of White supremacist hate and of racial and ethnic bigotry and apparently have no realistic recourse against it,” stated Manvinder Singh.
“Let’s begin by recognizing that these incidents are not happening in a vacuum and that they all have common denominators. Let’s also admit that the explanations given are too simplistic and are not convincing given what the community is experiencing on the ground,” stated Gurpreet Singh, UNITED SIKHS CEO. “For the hundreds of minority children and families who are attacked daily by White supremacist who have been taught to hate them and single them out because they wear a turban or because of the color of their skin, the problem is very clear and very real.” he stated.
While UNITED SIKHS and the local Sikh community appreciate the efforts of the local authorities and the DOJ, it is critical that authorities share the details and facts that led to them to reach the conclusions. When the shooter’s mother called the police for help, a police officer mentioned there was white supremacy information on his computer. This evidence was dismissed as inconsequential without justification. “Without more transparency about how determinations were made, the community will remain fearful for their safety and excluded,” stated Mr. Gurpreet Singh.
By: Eva Landeo
Media and Development Coordinator