Seven years earlier, her son's father killed himself after an argument with Sheila over his drug use. His agitated behavior spurred her to bring him to Barrington Health Center on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Sheila began to notice issues with her son as early as fourth grade. "In fact, those with mental illness are 10 times more likely to be the victims of violent crime." "People with mental illnesses are no more likely to be violent than those without a mental health disorder," the American Psychiatric Association says. adults have a diagnosable mental disorder, according to the American Psychiatric Association. That doesn't mean he was destined to become a mass shooter. The killer had a long history of mental health issues. We hope, much like Sheila Hole, that some good can come of this, whether by giving more attention to mental health care issues or holding accountable those whose job it is to protect us.Ĭolumn: This is why we are writing about a mass shooter IndyStar has decided to share this story with a simple intention. IndyStar also spoke with her close friend and her sister, who confirmed the killer's abusive behavior and the family's interactions with the FBI. It details her efforts to find help the year prior. She gave reporters a journal, which she kept in a briefcase by her kitchen table, that she filled after the shooting. Sheila provided IndyStar with medical records and other documents dating back 10 years.
She said she decided to break her silence because she hopes telling the story will expose a series of shortcomings. She didn't want to cause the victims of her son's crimes any additional grief. The details of the killer's life were told to IndyStar by Sheila Hole in a series of interviews between September and November.
But at crucial moments, their interventions failed. They were warned of his propensity for violence. IndyStar found law enforcement and mental health care professionals had multiple interactions with the killer. Understanding the killer's backstory exposes not only his culpability - he is the one accountable for his actions - but also whether those with the power and responsibility to intervene did all they should. Why?Īnd could anyone have done something to prevent it?įedEx shooting in Indianapolis: Who were the victims? Loved ones and a city searching for an answer. Alexander, Samaria Blackwell, Amarjeet Kaur Johal, Jasvinder Kaur, Amarjit Sekhon, Jaswinder Singh, Karli Smith and John Weisert.Īll innocent. Once there, he selfishly and callously unleashed four minutes of terror. Instead, he slipped out of the house and traveled to a FedEx facility in southwest Indianapolis. "I think all is pretty good," Sheila wrote later in a journal documenting their final interaction. Such moments - rare as they were - were why she never stopped trying, despite his violent tendencies, abusive behavior and consistently bad decisions. She thought - she hoped - he was at peace. But that evening, he decided to draw a hot bath for himself. Their relationship was always one comment or violent memory away from becoming volatile. The time he emerged from a gun store, smiling, with his new rifle. The FBI task force officer who showed up at their door to say he was a neo-Nazi. Domestic abuse, police interventions, his threats of suicide, his dead-end therapy sessions.
The events of the past year weighed heavily on Sheila Hole. One effect of his obsessive-compulsive disorder was that he didn't like having long hair. She messed up a couple of times so they talked about shaving his head. So they decided she would cut his hair there in their east-side home. Their usual go-to, the Great Clips on Shadeland Avenue, was closed for remodeling. After eating he told her he wanted a haircut.