A 68-year-old Southwest Asian man, Jaswinder Singh, had recently begun working at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, not out of necessity, but to stay active and socialize with friends from his Sikh community who were also employed there. Having resided in Greenwood for three years after moving to be closer to family, he was a beloved husband, father of three, and grandfather to five.
He was known for his friendly nature, his love for daily walks in his neighborhood park, and his deep involvement in the Sikh temple in Greenwood.
On the evening of April 15, 2021, Singh was at his new job, looking forward to collecting his first paycheck in three decades. It was his second week of employment. That night, a former employee of the facility, 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole, launched a deadly assault. After arriving at the facility, Hole began shooting in the parking lot before moving towards the entrance. The attack, which lasted less than four minutes, claimed the lives of eight employees, including Singh.
The shooter, who had a history of mental health issues, took his own life at the scene. Consequently, there were no arrests or suspects to be tried. The investigation revealed that Hole had legally purchased the two semi-automatic rifles used in the attack, despite previous concerns about his mental state having been reported to law enforcement. The incident prompted calls for stricter gun control measures and better mental health support.
In the aftermath, the Sikh community, which comprised a significant portion of the FedEx facility's workforce, mourned the loss of four of its members, including Jaswinder Singh. His family remembered him as a man with a big heart who was a friend to everyone he met. The tragic event left a deep void in his family and the local community, who gathered for vigils and prayer services to honor his memory and the other seven victims of the senseless act of violence.
