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Elkhart Shooting At Martin’s Supermarket Leaves 3 Dead

Elkhart police officers fatally shot a man suspected of killing two women at a Martin’s supermarket Wednesday night. The suspect identified as Shawn Walter Bair, age 22, is reported to have used...
Elkhart Shooting At Martin’s Supermarket Leaves 3 Dead
Written by Val Powell
  • Elkhart police officers fatally shot a man suspected of killing two women at a Martin’s supermarket Wednesday night. The suspect identified as Shawn Walter Bair, age 22, is reported to have used a semi-automatic handgun to shoot 44-year-old Rachelle Godfread and 20-year-old Krystle Dikes at approximately 10 p.m.

    Bair who is from Elkhart, lived nearby and was well known at the store, said Indiana police officer Trent Smith. Before Bair shot the two women, he was seen using his cell phone and walking around the store for about 35 minutes.

    Police arrived shortly after the shooting and confronted the armed suspect, they then opened fire, killing him.

    “It was obvious he was going to the store with a mission. As far as how long he’d been thinking about this, whether a month or a year, we don’t know,” Smith said.

    Bair first opened fire on Dikes and then shot Godfread. He then turned his attention to the store manager, telling him to get down on his knees. When the police arrived, Bair became frenzied and the manager escaped. Police believe that had they not responded quickly, more people may have died.

    Bair’s motive for the shooting has not been established but the authorities are interviewing witnesses and studying surveillance videos.

    “We have not determined a motive,” Sgt. Smith said.

    However, there are claims that Bair may have had a past relationship with the 20-year-old victim, who at one time visited Bair’s home.

    Gov. Mike Pence released a statement Thursday, where he commended the police for their good work and bravery and sent condolences to the families of the victims.

    And the store posted a statement on its Facebook page, saying

    “Thank you to our community for your thoughts and prayers tonight. We will comment further when we can do so responsibly and appropriately.”

    Image via Youtube

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