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21-Year-Old Man Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Indianapolis Postal Worker 21-Year-Old Man Charged in Fatal Shooting of Indianapolis Postal Worker
(about 13 hours later)
The police have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the shooting death of a postal worker in Indianapolis who was gunned down on Monday while she delivered mail, officials said Wednesday. An Indianapolis man was accused on Wednesday of killing a postal worker while she was delivering mail on his street, after he confronted her about mail not being delivered at his home, court documents show.
The postal worker, Angela Summers, 45, was shot just before 4 p.m. at 422 N Denny Street in east Indianapolis, according to the police. The postal worker, Angela Summers, 45, was shot in the chest just before 4 p.m. on Monday on North Denny Street in east Indianapolis, according to an affidavit written by Joseph J. De St Jean, an inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Alondra Salazar, 19, told The Indianapolis Star that she was at home on Monday when she heard a loud noise followed by a knock on the door. When she opened it, she said, she found a wounded Ms. Summers on the porch, surrounded by blood, undelivered mail and a can of pepper spray. She comforted Ms. Summers, who she said was hyperventilating, while they waited for the paramedics, the newspaper reported. Ms. Summers was taken to a hospital, where she died, the police said. The man, Tony Cushingberry-Mays, 21, was charged with murder, assault on an employee of the United States and a firearms offense. He was set to appear in federal court on Thursday, and it was not immediately clear whether he had a lawyer.
While the police did not say what the apparent motive for the killing was, the National Association of Letter Carriers said in a Facebook post on Monday that Ms. Summers, the mother of a 14-year-old girl, was shot by a customer who was upset because his mail was being held at the post office. According to the affidavit, Mr. Cushingberry-Mays told the authorities that he lived next door to the home where Ms. Summers was delivering mail. The Postal Service had stopped delivering mail to his home because of problems with a dog there, the affidavit said.
On Tuesday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Tony Cushingberry, 21, for what it said was his “alleged involvement in the death of Angela Summers.” Mr. Cushingberry-Mays confronted Ms. Summers and the argument escalated, Inspector De St Jean wrote in the affidavit. Witnesses told detectives that Ms. Summers pepper-sprayed Mr. Cushingberry-Mays before Mr. Cushingberry-Mays shot Ms. Summers, the affidavit said.
Officials did not specify what they believe Mr. Cushingberry’s involvement was in the shooting or whether a $50,000 reward offered by the United States Postal Inspection Service helped lead to his arrest. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana has yet to review the case and make a decision about criminal charges, the police said on Wednesday. In an interview with investigators, Mr. Cushingberry-Mays said that he had asked Ms. Summers several times for his mail and that she did not respond to him, Inspector De St Jean wrote in the affidavit. Mr. Cushingberry-Mays told the authorities the pepper spray caused him discomfort because he had asthma, Inspector De St Jean wrote, and that he did not mean to kill Ms. Summers — only to scare her. He said he had never spoken to Ms. Summers before, the inspector said.
Efforts to reach both a spokesman for the office and Mr. Cushingberry on Wednesday night were unsuccessful. It was unclear whether Mr. Cushingberry had a lawyer. Prosecutors declined to provide further information.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are continuing to investigate the killing. As she was falling asleep at her home on North Denny street, Alondra Salazar, 19, said she heard a loud noise followed by a knock on the door, she told The Indianapolis Star. When she opened it, she said, she found a wounded Ms. Summers on the porch, surrounded by blood, undelivered mail and a can of pepper spray. She comforted Ms. Summers, who she said was hyperventilating, while they waited for the paramedics, the newspaper reported.
Ms. Summers was taken to a hospital, where she died, the police said.
Odessa Wallace, a friend of Ms. Summers, said she had known the postal worker for more than a decade and wished she could hug her one more time.Odessa Wallace, a friend of Ms. Summers, said she had known the postal worker for more than a decade and wished she could hug her one more time.
“The Angela I knew was adventurous, fun-loving, bubbly, passionate and loved her daughter more than anything else,” Ms. Wallace said.“The Angela I knew was adventurous, fun-loving, bubbly, passionate and loved her daughter more than anything else,” Ms. Wallace said.
Ms. Summers joined the United States Postal Service less than two years ago and was dedicated to her customers and co-workers as a letter carrier and union representative, according to the letter carriers association.Ms. Summers joined the United States Postal Service less than two years ago and was dedicated to her customers and co-workers as a letter carrier and union representative, according to the letter carriers association.
Fredric Rolando, the association’s president, said the nation’s postal workers faced many dangers on the job, and even more now so that millions of Americans could shelter at home amid the pandemic.Fredric Rolando, the association’s president, said the nation’s postal workers faced many dangers on the job, and even more now so that millions of Americans could shelter at home amid the pandemic.
“That is a risk we take for the greater good, but what happened to sister Summers is heartbreaking because it was so unnecessary and so senseless,” Mr. Rolando said in a statement.“That is a risk we take for the greater good, but what happened to sister Summers is heartbreaking because it was so unnecessary and so senseless,” Mr. Rolando said in a statement.
From 2013 to 2018, four postal workers were killed in workplace homicides, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.From 2013 to 2018, four postal workers were killed in workplace homicides, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Ethan Evans, a member of the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County, mourned the loss of Ms. Summers in a Facebook post on Tuesday.Ethan Evans, a member of the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County, mourned the loss of Ms. Summers in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“We have to be there for our frontline workers, just like they are for us, by working to #StopGunViolence,” he said. “We have to be there for our front-line workers, just like they are for us, by working to #StopGunViolence,” he said.