A gunman shot and killed three people at the Greenwood Park Mall food court Sunday night before an armed bystander killed him, according to Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison. Two people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl with a minor injury.
The shooting happened around 6 p.m. Sunday, the mall’s closing time. The first emergency calls were received at 6:05 p.m.
More:What we know about the shooting at Greenwood Park Mall
Ison said the armed person who shot and killed the gunman was a 22-year-old man from Bartholomew County.
Indiana politicians and leaders issued statements and responses following the shooting.
Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers
In a statement posted to Facebook late Sunday evening, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers praised the mall patron who stopped the shooting. “This person saved lives tonight,” Myers said. “On behalf of the City of Greenwood, I am grateful for his quick action and heroism in this situation.”
Gov. Eric Holcomb
In a statement Monday afternoon, Gov. Eric Holcomb said he was grateful for the “quick, heroic actions” taken by the armed bystander and first responders.
“I stand with the community in grieving the loss of lives, and my thoughts are also with the many people impacted by this traumatic incident, including innocent bystanders whose lives are forever changed,” he said.
Mike Pence
Former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence expressed his prayers for those who died and were injured, and called the armed bystander who killed the gunman “the real hero of the day,” quoting Greenwood Police Chief Ison.
“God bless that Hoosier Hero,” Pence said in the tweet.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita
Todd Rokita, Indiana attorney general, called the shooting “devastating” in a tweet Sunday night. He then went on to praise the armed bystander who shot and killed the gunman.
“Hoosiers across the state are no doubt upset but also mobilized in care & prayer for their fellow Hoosiers,” he said. “The bravery of the armed individual who took action to stop the shooter undoubtedly saved lives, and for that … I and many others are grateful.”
Sen. Todd Young
Republican Sen. Todd Young tweeted Sunday night, “Terrible news tonight in my home county. Praying for the victims of a shooting at the Greenwood Park Mall. Thank you to our law enforcement officers who responded.”
Sen. Mike Braun
Sen. Mike Braun, a Republican, said he was praying for for the families of those killed and expressed gratitude towards the citizen who shot and killed the gunman in a tweet Sunday night.
“Praying for families of those killed in a senseless act of violence in Greenwood tonight, and grateful for the brave armed citizen who took action to stop the perpetrator and prevent further tragic loss of life,” he said.
Rep. Jim Banks
Republican Rep. Jim Banks, who represents Indiana’s 3rd District in Congress, tweeted Sunday night, “I’m grateful a good guy with a gun was there to prevent further casualties and am praying for the families who lost loved ones in this senseless tragedy.”
Indiana House and Senate Democrats
The Twitter accounts for both the Indiana House and Senate Democrats both issued statements following the shooting.
On Monday morning, the Indiana House Democrats’ account tweeted that the Greenwood shooting hit “closer to home” and that the incident is “a reminder that there is no freedom in a society where Hoosiers are fearful to shop, work & go to school.”
“May we honor the 3 victims by recommitting to a safer & better future,” the tweet said.
The Indiana Senate Democrats also issued a statement on Twitter, sending condolences to the families of those who were shot and killed.
“Unfortunately, it seems like we’re starting every week with heaviness in our hearts for mourning families,” the tweet said.
“We will continue praying for the victims of so much senseless violence as well as fighting for the policies that Hoosiers want to allow their families to live, work and play safely without fearing the possibility of gun violence,” a subsequent tweet said.
State Rep. Mitch Gore
State Rep. Mitch Gore, a Democrat who represents Indiana’s 89th District, expressed sympathy for those impacted by the shooting and frustration with gun violence in a series of tweets Sunday night.
“Keep the families of those we lost in your thoughts tonight along with the citizen who did what they had to do to protect their neighbors and the people and first responders who witnessed yet another tragic instance of gun violence in our community,” Gore said in the initial tweet.
In a follow-up tweet, Gore said as a society and government, “we are utterly failing at addressing gun violence.”
“Clearly, new approaches are urgently needed,” he said.
Gore also responded to a shooting which occurred in Beech Grove just a few hours after the Greenwood Park Mall shooting.
According to a Facebook post from Beech Grove Parks containing a statement from Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley, one person was killed and three were injured in a shooting that occurred at Don Challis Park in Beech Grove Sunday night.
More:EMS delayed in getting to Beech Grove park shooting due to Greenwood mall shooting
“Where can we go to be free of this madness?” Gore said. “The mall? No. The park? No. School? No. Movie theaters, concerts or supermarkets? No no no.”
Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott
Tom McDermott, mayor of Hammond and candidate for U.S. Senate, tweeted Sunday night, “My heart aches for those who lost loved ones today in the shooting at Greenwood Park Mall. There are simply no words for these tragedies that continue to unfold before our eyes.”
McDermott is the Democratic candidate running against Republican incumbent Sen. Todd Young in the November midterm election.
Rep. Jackie Walorski
Rep. Jackie Walorski, a Republican representing Indiana’s 2nd District in Congress, posted a statement of gratitude to the armed bystander who shot and killed the gunman to Twitter and Facebook Monday.
“I’m grateful to the courageous hero who took out the coward attacking innocent people in Greenwood, preventing additional tragedy,” Walorski said in the post, which included a link to a Fox News story about the shooting. “This selfless act of service amid the chaos demonstrates the best of the Hoosier spirit.”
Rep. Jim Baird
Republican Rep. Jim Baird, who represents Indiana’s 4th District in Congress, tweeted a statement Monday afternoon calling the shooting at Greenwood Park Mall a “senseless tragedy.”
“Today, we continue to pray for the families of the fallen and those injured in yesterday’s senseless tragedy,” he said. “Please join me in recognizing the heroism of the citizen who subdued the shooter and whose actions surely prevented further loss of life.”
Rep. André Carson
Rep. André Carson, a Democrat representing Indiana’s 7th congressional district, tweeted that he is praying for the victims and families of both the Greenwood and Beech Grove shootings, in addition to “other mass shootings across our country this weekend.”
“Mass shooting must not become the norm,” Carson said in a subsequent tweet. “You shouldn’t be at risk taking yourself or your family to the mall, grocery, park or place of worship.”
Rep. Greg Pence
Rep. Greg Pence, a Republican representing Indiana’s 6th District in Congress, tweeted Monday, “Yesterday, and the coming days will be difficult for the community of Greenwood. I ask everyone to join me in praying for the victims of last night’s tragedy at Greenwood Park Mall, and those who have lost a loved one.”
Pence went on to thank law enforcement and the armed bystander, 22-year-old Elisjsha Dicken, who shot and killed the gunman.
“We commend not only local and federal law enforcement agencies for their swift and coordinated response, but also the law-abiding Good Samaritan who ended the trajectory of this incident,” Pence said.
Rep. Trey Hollingsworth
Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, a Republican congressman representing Indiana’s 9th District, which includes Greenwood, said in a statement Monday that his “heart breaks for the families of the victims and the greater Greenwood Community.”
“I’ve been in contact this morning with local law enforcement officers and first responders, commending them for their swift response time to the scene and recognizing the valiant efforts from the armed citizen who stopped the shooter,” he said in the statement.