In the spring of 2021, a tragedy unfolded in Indianapolis that cut short the life of John Weisert, a 74-year-old man, and seven others in a senseless act of violence. Weisert, a retired professional engineer and Air Force veteran, had been working as a package handler at a FedEx facility for about four and a half years to help pay off some outstanding debts.
He and his wife, Mary Carol, were looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in the fall of that year.
On the evening of Thursday, April 15, 2021, a former employee of the FedEx facility, 19-year-old Brandon Scott Hole, launched a deadly assault. Shortly after 11 p.m., Hole began shooting randomly in the parking lot before moving inside the building, killing four people outside and four more within the facility. The attack, which lasted only a few minutes, ended when Hole took his own life. John Weisert was the oldest of the eight victims who tragically lost their lives that night.
The investigation that followed revealed a troubled history for the shooter. In March of the previous year, Hole's mother had contacted law enforcement with concerns that her son might attempt 'suicide by cop.' This led to the seizure of a shotgun from him and a temporary mental health hold. Despite this, Hole was able to legally purchase the two semi-automatic rifles he used in the attack in July and September of 2020. The Federal Bureau of Investigation had also interviewed Hole in April 2020 after his mother's warning but closed the investigation due to insufficient evidence of any criminal violation. In their final assessment, the FBI concluded that the mass shooting was an 'act of suicidal murder.' As the sole perpetrator, Brandon Scott Hole's death at the scene concluded the investigation, with no further arrests made or suspects sought.
