On the evening of January 20, 2021, a fatal workplace dispute erupted at an insulation manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. Justin Laster, a 42-year-old African American male, was working his shift at PSC Industries near the intersection of 32nd and Elizabeth Streets on the city’s east side. Laster, a father and former Marine, had recently started working at the facility to support his family.
Around 7:00 p.m., police were dispatched to the factory following reports of a shooting inside the building.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered Laster suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators quickly learned that the shooter was a fellow employee who had fled the premises immediately after the incident. Witnesses at the factory identified the suspect as 33-year-old Jacob Spivey, a co-worker who had reportedly been exhibiting strange behavior prior to the violence. According to statements given to police, Spivey had been mumbling to himself and laughing without cause, leading some colleagues to question his mental state.
Detectives located and arrested Jacob Spivey the following day, taking him into custody on a preliminary charge of murder. During police interviews, Spivey allegedly admitted to the shooting but provided a chillingly vague motive, telling officers that he decided to kill Laster simply because he got 'bad vibes' from him. He was subsequently held in the Marion County Jail as the legal process began, leaving Laster's family and community to mourn the sudden and senseless loss of a man described by loved ones as a dedicated father and a 'gentle giant.'
