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Police use of force and gun violence are part of the story. Our city must have a broader discussion about these complexities.

What happened in the early morning hours of March 29, 2021, when 13-year-old Adam Toledo was killed is heartbreaking. Yet it’s also complicated.

Recent tragedies across the county have made clear that as a society we must examine our police force’s use of deadly force. At the same time, at least in Chicago, we need a city-wide intervention to address gun violence amongst the citizenry.

Adam’s death highlights how these two issues are inextricably linked. If Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old also in the area, or Adam did not shoot at that car, the officer would not have been chasing Adam through that alley.

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We must address police shootings but we must also confront the daily gun violence that has plagued our city for so long that it has become commonplace. Attempting to tackle these issues will be anything but easy. Our institutions, like the Chicago Sun-Times, will need to assume leadership roles if there is to be a path forward. To do this, and to do it right, we have to approach issues like this with empathy and a willingness to embrace their complexity.

The editorial board shied away from the complexity in its piece “‘Show your hands,’ the officer ordered, a split second before shooting Adam Toledo,” to disappointing and detrimental effect. The same videos the editorial board viewed show that Adam had a gun and that Adam or Ruben had used that gun, apparently to shoot at a car, just minutes before the tragedy.

These uncomfortable facts don’t make what happened to Adam in any way acceptable, but this newspaper has a duty to fully present them if it wants to be relied upon as one of the city’s institutional leaders.

This is an opportunity for a broader discussion and I hope the Sun-Times will take the lead going forward.

Matthew Ingersoll, Beverly

A teen out at 2:30 a.m. is the real tragedy

Though it is a tragedy Adam Toledo died, it is not the fault of the cop who shot him. Toledo was running from the cop in an alley at 2:30 in the morning with a gun in his hand.

Put yourself in the cop’s shoes, receiving a call of “shots fired” with an armed suspect running away. Your adrenaline is rushing and a split-second decision has to be made. Though we now view it frame by frame, that is not how life is lived in real time, let alone at 2:30 a.m. in a dark alley while chasing an armed, unknown suspect.

The real tragedy and question is why a 13-year-old was out with an armed, 21-year-old convicted criminal at 2:30 in the morning.

That is what caused this tragedy, not a cop responding to it.

Jean DuBois, Elmhurst

Keep high schools closed

As a veteran public school educator for over 20 years, it is my conviction that keeping high school students out of school buildings in regard to in-person learning is the right thing to do at this point. The argument by Ammie Kessem in her April 13 op-ed is from a selfish perspective without taking into account the entire picture.

First, not every high school teacher has been vaccinated, which poses serious risks for themselves and students. Second, high school students change classes throughout the day causing an enormous amount of traffic in hallways, especially in schools with a large student population.

Third, data show that most high school students would rather continue with remote learning that eliminates the possibility of contracting COVID 19. Fourth, if some students return to class but more choose remote learning, how can the teacher provide quality instruction for both groups?

Fifth, Ms. Kessem’s allegation that the remaining ”20 days in school would be the best 20 days ever for many Chicago high schoolers” is just her belief, without any empirical evidence.

I applaud the Chicago Teachers Union for doing what many teachers, staff, and students believe to be in their best interest. The rest of this school year should be relegated to remote learning without having to be concerned about the possible danger of in-person instruction and without having to develop a strategy to provide meaningful instruction for both the remote learners and those who are in-person.

Al S. Kennedy, CPS teacher

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Police Chief Randal Taylor noted that a “significant” number of employees at the facility are members of the Sikh community, and the Sikh Coalition later confirmed that members of the community were among the wounded and killed.

INDIANAPOLIS — FBI agents last year interviewed the gunman who fatally shot eight people at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, the bureau said Friday, as investigators searched the home of the 19-year-old former FedEx employee.

Coroners began the slow process of identifying the victims as family members spent hours agonizing over word of their loved ones. The slayings Thursday night marked the latest in a string of recent mass shootings to rock the U.S.

The shooter was identified as Brandon Scott Hole of Indianapolis, Deputy Police Chief Craig McCartt told a news conference. Investigators searched a home in Indianapolis associated with Hole and seized evidence, including desktop computers and other electronic media, McCartt said.

Paul Keenan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office, said Friday that agents questioned Hole last year after his mother called police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop.” He said the FBI was called after items were found in Hole’s bedroom but he did not elaborate on what they were. He said agents found no evidence of a crime and that they did not identify Hole as espousing a racially motivated ideology.

McCartt said Hole was a former employee of the company and last worked for FedEx in 2020. McCartt said he did not know why Hole left the job or if he had ties to the workers in the facility. He said police have not yet uncovered a motive for Thursday’s shooting but added that law enforcement officers seized a gun from him last year. McCartt also said authorities are still identifying the victims and that not all of the victims’ families have been notified.

Hole started randomly firing at people in the parking lot and then went into the building and continued shooting late Thursday night, McCartt said. He said the shooter apparently killed himself shortly before police entered the building.

“There was no confrontation with anyone that was there,” he said. “There was no disturbance, there was no argument. He just appeared to randomly start shooting.”

McCartt said four people were killed outside the building and another four inside. Several people were also wounded, including five who were taken to the hospital. McCartt said the slayings took place in a matter of minutes.

Officials with the coroner’s office began the process of identifying victims Friday afternoon, a process they said would take several hours.

Police Chief Randal Taylor noted that a “significant” number of employees at the FedEx facility are members of the Sikh community, and the Sikh Coalition later issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened to learn” that Sikh community members were among the wounded and killed.

The coalition, which identifies itself as the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., said in the statement that it expected authorities to “conduct a full investigation — including the possibility of bias as a factor.” The coalition’s executive director, Satjeet Kaur, noted that more than 8,000 Sikh Americans live in Indiana.

The agonizing wait by the workers’ families was exacerbated by the fact that most employees aren’t allowed to carry cellphones inside the FedEx building, making contact with them difficult.

“When you see notifications on your phone, but you’re not getting a text back from your kid and you’re not getting information and you still don’t know where they are … what are you supposed to do?” Mindy Carson said early Friday, fighting back tears.

Carson later said she had heard from her daughter Jessica, who works in the facility, and that she was OK. She was going to meet her, but didn’t say where.

FedEx said in a statement that cellphone access is limited to a small number of workers in the dock and package sorting areas to “support safety protocols and minimize potential distractions.”

FedEx Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Smith called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”

“This is a devastating day, and words are hard to describe the emotions we all feel,” he wrote in an email to employees.

The killings marked the latest in a string of recent mass shootings across the country and the third mass shooting this year in Indianapolis. Five people, including a pregnant woman, were shot and killed in the city in January, and a man was accused of killing three adults and a child before abducting his daughter during at argument at a home in March. In other states last month, eight people were fatally shot at massage businesses in the Atlanta area, and 10 died in gunfire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the community must guard against resignation and “the assumption that this is simply how it must be and we might as well get used to it.”

President Joe Biden said he had been briefed on the shooting and called gun violence “an epidemic” in the U.S.

“Too many Americans are dying every single day from gun violence. It stains our character and pierces the very soul of our nation,” he said in a statement. Later, he tweeted, “We can, and must, do more to reduce gun violence and save lives.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was “horrified and heartbroken” by the shooting and called for congressional action on gun control.

“As we pray for the families of all affected, we must work urgently to enact commonsense gun violence prevention laws to save lives & prevent this suffering,” the Democratic leader said in a tweet.

A witness said he was working inside the building when he heard several gunshots in rapid succession.

“I see a man come out with a rifle in his hand and he starts firing and he starts yelling stuff that I could not understand,” Levi Miller told WTHR-TV. “What I ended up doing was ducking down to make sure he did not see me because I thought he would see me and he would shoot me.”

A man told WTTV that his niece was sitting in the driver’s seat of her car when the gunfire erupted, and she was wounded.

“She got shot on her left arm,” said Parminder Singh. “She’s fine, she’s in the hospital now.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until April 20, and he and others decried the shooting.

Chris Bavender, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Indianapolis office, said the bureau is helping with the investigation.

___

Associated Press reporters Michael Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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The teen boy was standing on the sidewalk about 1 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Washington Boulevard when he was a person approached him and fired shots, police said.

A 17-year-old boy was hurt in a shooting Friday in West Garfield Park.

The teen boy was standing on the sidewalk about 1 p.m. in the 4100 block of West Washington Boulevard when he was a person approached him and fired shots, Chicago police said.

He was struck in the hand and was taken in good condition to Rush University Medical Center, police said.

Area Four detectives are investigating.

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Ryan Tepera — claiming “no malicious intent” toward Brandon Woodruff — is appealing his three-game suspension and fine.

David Ross wasn’t even sure where he was going to watch Friday’s Cubs-Braves game. A few hours before first pitch, he just knew that he had to clear the heck out of the clubhouse area. It only added to his aggravation.

Turns out it’s no fun being suspended — especially when you don’t believe you ought to be.

Ross was suspended for one game and fined after Major League Baseball determined that reliever Ryan Tepera intentionally threw at Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff Tuesday in Milwaukee. Apparently, it mattered not that Brewers pitchers were repeatedly plunking Cubs catcher Willson Contreras or that Tepera’s pitch to Woodruff was low and didn’t even hit him.

“We threw one behind a guy’s calf and we’ve got suspensions and fines everywhere? That makes zero sense to me,” Ross said, mixing in an expletive.

Bench coach Andy Green managed in place of Ross, who added that he has had a “hard time understanding a lot of what’s come down” from the league. Tepera — claiming “no malicious intent” toward Woodruff — is appealing his three-game suspension and fine, with a hearing coming as soon as next week, and is available to pitch until then.

“It was just a message that we’d had enough,” the right-hander said.

Tepera, too, ripped the league’s punishment.

“To be blunt, today’s game of baseball has become so soft,” he said. “Back in the day, matters were settled on the field — one of many unwritten rules that have changed over time.”

Contreras has been hit 14 times in his last seven games against the Brewers. He has been hit more times than anyone — 19, including once Friday by Braves starter Kyle Wright — since the start of the 2020 season. The Cubs have led the majors in that painful category over that same period.

“We lead the league in getting hit by pitches, and it’s not even close,” Ross said. “And we’ve never intentionally retaliated, to my knowledge.”

J-Hey on Jackie

On Jackie Robinson Day at Wrigley, with players on both teams wearing No. 42 on their backs, Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward drew a link from Robinson to today’s 100-plus-member Players Alliance — a nonprofit organization formed by current and former Black baseball players to create increased opportunities for the Black community.

“It’s amazing that he was able to make the sacrifices he did and continue his character, continue his love for the game and not put himself above that,” Heyward said. “[He did it] for his teammates, of course, but also for the numerous amount of people like myself [whom] he didn’t know it was going to affect. …

“He didn’t know the extent. He didn’t know that there would be a Players Alliance here today, unified and trying to rally troops behind good messages and positivity in our communities.”

This and that

A late scratch from his last scheduled start because he wasn’t feeling well, Kyle Hendricks should be good to go on Sunday.

• The four players who were on the COVID-19-related injured list in recent days — Jason Adam, Matt Duffy, Dan WInkler and Matt Duffy — have all tested negative for the virus. They were put on the list according to safety protocols after coaches Craig Driver and Chris Young tested positive.

• Adam and Duffy appeared in Friday’s game. Ross was hopeful to have Winkler and Workman back in the bullpen on Sunday.

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Are you visiting Chicago and looking for a unique stay in the heart of a great neighborhood? Do you live in the area but want to stay downtown for the weekend in a luxurious space? Make yourself at home at one of these extra-special, extra-beautiful spaces with the best Chicago Airbnb listings on the market. 

Gold Coast Luxury Home

Located in the upscale Gold Coast neighborhood, this rehabbed apartment includes a king-size bed, updated kitchen, and a Ms. Pac-Man arcade cabinet. Building amenities include a rooftop patio, a pool, and a gym making it one of these most upscale Chicago Airbnb listings on here. 

Your Sweet Home in Chicago

Enjoy amazing views from the balcony of this “loft-style” Airbnb apartment in Chicago. When you’re not sight-seeing, take advantage of the pool table in the living room, the in-wall fireplace, or the comfy queen-size bed.

Chicago Home Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Emil Bach House is not only an “architectural treasure,” but a great place to stay overnight as well. This Chicago Airbnb listing itself is sizable and impressive, looking out onto beautiful gardens which sit adjacent to a Japanese tea house.

Chic Penthouse in Fulton Market

Experience hip city living at this penthouse in Fulton Market. 15-foot ceilings and large windows make this a spacious Airbnb location in Downtown Chicago to take a breather from all of the nightlife and outdoor dining you’ll be enjoying in the neighborhood.

Luxurious Penthouse With Game Room

Stretch out in this South Loop penthouse and make the most of a well-equipped game room. With over 4000 arcade games, a pool table, foosball, karaoke, and more, you’ll never get bored.

“Art House” in Wrigleyville

This Airbnb townhouse near Wrigley Field in Chicago is a visually stunning stay. With murals recreating Van Gogh’s Starry Night and the Morton Salt girl, a handmade mosaic shower, and eclectic home accents, the house is truly unique.

River North’s Rock N Roll

This apartment just north of downtown is decorated with lots of rock n’ roll memorabilia, and is conveniently located just above a “trendy restaurant.” Enjoy a large canopy bed, full kitchen, and exposed brick walls during your stay.

Lincoln Park Luxury

This townhouse in Lincoln Park is pure luxury. 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms give guests tons of room, the design is clean and contemporary, and both the bar and fireplace are ready for a date night in this Chicago Airbnb listing.

Premium Duplex Penthouse With Private Rooftop

This industrial-style apartment comes with a full kitchen, pool table, private rooftop space with amazing views, and access to the building’s gym. Get away from home while simultaneously enjoying all of its comforts.

Artist’s Loft in West Loop

Experience the hip aesthetic of “artist” loft living without the “starving” part when you rent this Artist’s Loft in the trendy West Loop. With industrial accents, a spiral staircase, beautiful large bedrooms and a full kitchen, you’ll start to feel more artsy in no time.

Chicago Airbnb Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

 

The post 10 Beautiful Chicago Airbnb Listings to Check Out For Your Next Vacation appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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The brand new immersive Artopia experience in West Loop is providing an escape for Chicagoans to explore, indulge, and enjoy futuristic art beginning April 16th.

Throughout the pandemic, artists have had to find new ways to draw inspiration and ultimately inspire us during the these most dire of times. Thus, we’ve been treated to a vast array of unique art exhibits, with a few other larger art installations planned for the summer. These works of iconic street art are stunning and often times have a way of transplanting us from the current state of desolate unknown we are in. However, this latest Year 3000-esque exhibition is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Even Neil deGrasse Tyson would be proud.

Per the event’s website, “This unique experience, hosted in the gorgeous 32,000 square foot venue in Chicago’s West Loop, invites you to step into the universe of large scale light art installations and sculpture work from some of the most talented street artists around the country. And last but not least, the tour ends at The Artopia Lounge, where VIP & Icon ticket holders can stay to enjoy drinks in the exhibit.”

Important Info For Attending

Date: April 16th, 2021 until whenever

Artopia West Loop Hours of Operation:
Time Slots run Every Half Hour
Thursday & Friday: 4pm-10pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11am-10pm

Duration: Roughly 60 to 90 minutes long

• Location: Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60642
• All ages welcome. VIP access is for 21+.
• Ticket prices will start at $40 per adult. You can get them here via their website.
• Ticket Types:
  • General Admission– Guided tour of exhibition
  • VIP– Guided tour and cocktail
  • Icon– Guided tour, cocktail and merch pack

Additionally, the exhibit will snake through like Ikea in a one-way system, masks are mandatory, and there’s limited capacity to ensure that the exhibit is as safe as possible for everyone.

This is the one, Chicago. There are so many neat art instillation in the city but the brand new Artopia Exhibit in West Loop is primed to be the best one we’ve seen in sometime. Between this, the Van Gogh Experience, and the potential for Sunday’s on State, art is booming in Chicago. Be sure to get your tickets now and enjoy this while it’s in town!

Featured Image Credit: Artopia on Instagram

The post Artopia Experience in West Loop Opens Today, Here’s How You Can Get Tickets appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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While the pandemic hurt and closed down a lot of industries, the weed business in Illinois continues to boom. The state topped $1 billion in weed sales in 2020. And with continued interest and the city opening up this Spring, weed has become the go to recreational substance. Chicago is home of many of America’s largest weed corporations boasting a current total of 17 shops in the city and another 46 in the surrounding suburbs. Here are 5 of the top weed dispensaries in Chicago to get your hands on the best hash. And of course, you must be 21+ to legally purchase marijuana. 

GreenGate Chicago

7305 N Rogers Ave, Chicago, IL 60626 

This longtime medicinal dispensary has recently been given the greenlight to service recreational customers, which means their 317 products are now available for everyday stoners to enjoy. The company prides itself on customer care and offers a full suite of items from the state’s leading cannabis companies like Verano and Cresco Labs alongside family-owned farms like Nature’s Grace & Wellness.

Verilife

60 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654

River North recently welcomed its newest marijuana dispensary when this neighborhood outpost opened its doors this spring. It marks Chicago-based parent company PharmaCann’s third entry into Illinois since 2020, joining additional locations in Rosemont and Galena. The shop offers 211 product inventory of gummies, resin cartridges, popcorn, and more. With so many cannabis products, brands, and consumption methods they’re here to guide you on your cannabis journey. They work with you to establish a holistic understanding of your needs, wants and desires to ensure a positive and successful experience.

Sunnyside

3812 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

Sunnyside is the retail arm of Cresco Labs, the largest marijuana operator in Illinois and one of the biggest cannabis companies in the entire US. Two of their nine Illinois locations call Chicago home, including the original orange-and-white walled Lakeview location sitting just steps from Wrigley Field. In 2020, the company brought weed to River North when they opened a second Sunnyside in the upscale neighborhood. 

Dispensary 33

5001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Chicago’s first cannabis operator is also one of the city’s most beloved. The smartly-designed Uptown location showcases a soothing nature motif complemented by tasteful art. And their love for the good green is clearly evident—Chicago’s “most passionate” dispensary, they’ve gained legions of loyal fans since opening as a medical facility way back in 2015. Getting in on the action closer to downtown, Dispensary 33 also operates a second spot in trendy Fulton Market.

Columbia Care Chicago

4758 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630 

With 37 facilities spanning 12 states plus Washington DC, Columbia Care is a large-scale international operator known for introducing the country’s first legal credit card for cannabis purchases. Located in Jefferson Park near the Jefferson Park Blue Line, take a second to admire the store’s sleek black and white minimalist design while you browse recreational delights like face mints, gelatos, CBD drops, and pre-rolled dog walkers. 

Weed Dispensaries Chicago Featured Image: Pixabay

The post 5 Best Weed Dispensaries in Chicago to Stock up for 4/20 appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Six people were rescued shortly after the vessel capsized Tuesday, one other body was recovered from the water Wednesday and 11 are still missing. The second body was found in the water near the partially submerged Seacor Power lift boat Thursday night.

PORT FOURCHON, La. — The Coast Guard said Friday that it has found the body of a second dead worker from the lift boat that capsized off Louisiana’s coast earlier this week.

Rescuers in the air and the sea have been searching for the 19 workers who were aboard the vessel when it overturned Tuesday in rough weather about 8 miles from the Louisiana coast.

Six people were rescued shortly after the vessel capsized Tuesday, one other body was recovered from the water Wednesday and 11 are still missing. The second body was found in the water near the partially submerged Seacor Power lift boat Thursday night, according the Coast Guard news release.

Divers searching for survivors prepared to enter the vessel Friday, a rescue effort complicated by daunting technical challenges and continued bad weather. The hope is that the 11 missing people have found air pockets to survive inside the Seacor Power.

Steven Walcott, whose brother was on the capsized boat, told The Associated Press that the Coast Guard told family members about the second body during a briefing Friday.

“Right now, we’re hoping for a miracle,” Walcott said.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Carlos Galarza said early Friday that as long as weather permits, divers will try to get into the vessel. But Dawn Saddler, sister of Gregory Walcott, said families were told during the meeting that divers did not get onto the boat Friday morning because of rough weather.

“They were supposed to go this morning,” she said. “They’re trying to find the right way to go in.”

The large housing structure above the deck of the lift boat will likely pose significant challenges for divers, naval architect David Bourg said.

“Imagine if you take a four-story building with multiple rooms in it, turn it upside down and put it in the water and try to navigate it with a flashlight — that’s what you’re looking at here,” said Bourg, who is also an adjunct professor at the University of New Orleans’ School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

Two of the missing worker had been communicating with rescuers by two-way radio Tuesday after the ungainly platform ship flipped over in hurricane-force winds that day. They were spotted clinging to the overturned hull but returned to seek shelter inside after a third man fell into the water and was lost. There have not been any signs of life since then, officials said.

Time is of the essence because air pockets will eventually become depleted of oxygen, said Mauritius Bell, diving safety officer at the California Academy of Sciences.

“It would be somewhat analogous to breathing in and out of a paper bag,” he added. “At some point, it’s not survivable.”

On Thursday, searchers knocked on the ship’s hull without response.

Relatives of the missing gathered at a fire station at Port Fourchon, a sprawling base for much of the offshore oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. The port, busy with cranes, cargo and heavy equipment, is where workers from across Louisiana and beyond load up on a fleet of helicopters and ships that take them to the rigs for long stretches of work.

Marion Cuyler, who is engaged to crane operator Chaz Morales, wavered between optimism and fear after the relatives got closed-door briefings from Seacor executives and the Coast Guard.

“Hopefully, they are all in one room, and they can just rescue them all in one day,” she said.

The families expressed frustration during the briefing, and want answers to their questions about why the boat ventured out to sea despite warnings of an approaching storm, she said.

“I asked, ‘Who gave the orders’ and of course — silence,” she said. Cuyler said she’d told her husband-to-be that he shouldn’t be going out in such weather. “And he knew they shouldn’t have been going out.”

Walcott, who has also worked on lift boats, echoed that frustration about conditions. He said the boats are not designed for travel in rough weather.

The first Coast Guard ship arrived at the scene at 5:10 p.m, about 40 minutes after the initial distress signal, and spotted five men clinging to the hull, Galarza said.

A helicopter crew from the Bristow marine company lowered life vests and two-way VHF radios to them, he said. Two of the men dropped into the water and were picked up by the Coast Guard. About the same time, Good Samaritan vessels rescued four other people, he said.

The Coast Guard was able to talk to the three people still on the ship’s hull using the radios, but the sea was too rough to reach them. Later Tuesday night, the Coast Guard was notified that one person had fallen in the water and wasn’t seen again.

Shortly before 10 p.m., the two remaining people told the Coast Guard they were going back inside, and that was the last time the Coast Guard spoke with them, Galarza said.

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Martin contributed from Woodstock, Ga.

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The shooter was identified as 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole of Indiana, two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told The Associated Press.

INDIANAPOLIS — Police scoured a Fedex facility in Indianapolis and searched the suspected gunman’s home Friday looking for a motive for the latest mass shooting to rock the U.S., as family members of the eight victims spent agonizing hours awaiting word on their loved ones.

The shooter was identified as 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole of Indiana, two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told The Associated Press. The investigators searched a home in Indianapolis associated with Hole and seized evidence, including desktop computers and other electronic media, the officials said. The officials could not discuss the matter publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Indianapolis police said earlier that they had not yet discovered the gunman’s motive for opening fire with a rifle late Thursday night at a FedEx processing center near the Indianapolis airport.

Indianapolis Deputy Police Chief Craig McCartt said the gunman started randomly shooting at people in the parking lot and then went into the building and continued firing. He said the shooter apparently died by suicide shortly before police entered the building.

“There was no confrontation with anyone that was there,” he said. “There was no disturbance, there was no argument. He just appeared to randomly start shooting.”

McCartt said four people were killed outside the building and another four inside. Several people were also wounded, including five who were taken to the hospital.

The carnage took just a couple of minutes. “It did not last very long,” he said.

Officials with the coroner’s office began the process of identifying victims Friday afternoon, a process they said would take several hours.

Police Chief Randal Taylor noted that a “significant” number of employees at the facility are members of the Sikh community, and the Sikh Coalition later confirmed that members of the community were among the wounded and killed.

The coalition, which identifies itself as the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the U.S., said in a statement that it expected authorities to “conduct a full investigation — including the possibility of bias as a factor.” The coalition’s executive director, Satjeet Kaur, noted in the statement that more than 8,000 Sikh Americans live in Indiana.

The families’ agonizing waiting was exacerbated by the fact that most employees aren’t allowed to carry cellphones inside the FedEx building, making contact with them difficult.

“When you see notifications on your phone, but you’re not getting a text back from your kid and you’re not getting information and you still don’t know where they are … what are you supposed to do?” Mindy Carson said early Friday, fighting back tears.

Later Friday morning, Carson said she had heard from her daughter Jessica, who works in the facility and that she was OK. She was going to meet her, but didn’t say where.

FedEx said in a statement that cellphone access is limited to a small number of workers in the dock and package sorting areas to “support safety protocols and minimize potential distractions.”

FedEx Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick Smith called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.”

“This is a devastating day, and words are hard to describe the emotions we all feel,” he wrote in an email to employees.

The killings marked the latest in a string of recent mass shootings across the country and the third mass shooting this year in Indianapolis. Five people, including a pregnant woman, were shot and killed in the city in January, and a man was accused of killing three adults and a child before abducting his daughter during at argument at a home in March. In other states last month, eight people were fatally shot at massage businesses in the Atlanta area, and 10 died in gunfire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the community must guard against resignation and “the assumption that this is simply how it must be and we might as well get used to it.”

President Joe Biden said he had been briefed on the shooting and called gun violence “an epidemic” in the U.S.

“Too many Americans are dying every single day from gun violence. It stains our character and pierces the very soul of our nation,” he said in a statement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she was “horrified and heartbroken” by the shooting and called for congressional action on gun control.

“As we pray for the families of all affected, we must work urgently to enact commonsense gun violence prevention laws to save lives & prevent this suffering,” the Democratic leader said in a tweet.

A witness said he was working inside the building when he heard several gunshots in rapid succession.

“I see a man come out with a rifle in his hand and he starts firing and he starts yelling stuff that I could not understand,” Levi Miller told WTHR-TV. “What I ended up doing was ducking down to make sure he did not see me because I thought he would see me and he would shoot me.”

A man told WTTV that his niece was sitting in the driver’s seat of her car when the gunfire erupted, and she was wounded.

“She got shot on her left arm,” said Parminder Singh. “She’s fine, she’s in the hospital now.”

Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until April 20, and he and others decried the shooting.

Chris Bavender, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Indianapolis office, said the bureau is helping with the investigation.

___

Associated Press reporter Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report. Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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