Greenwood gunman, victims, and hero identified
20 year-old Jonathan Sapirman, of Greenwood, was the shooter at the Greenwood Mall on Sunday evening. His motive is still unknown, although authorities do not believe that the victims were specifically targeted. He was shot dead by an armed shopping mall customer.
56 year-old Pedro Pineda, his 37 year-old wife Rosa Mirian Rivera de Pineda, and 30 year-old Victor Gomez, all Indianapolis residents, were all fatally wounded during the incident. Two other unidentified victims were wounded, a 22 year-old woman and a 12 year-old girl.
Sapirman entered the mall around 5pm, where he made his way to the public restrooms, presumably to prepare for the massacre he would soon wage. He was armed with an M400 rifle, two additional handguns, several magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He is believed to have dropped his phone in the restroom toilet just before making his way to the food court.
Thankfully, Sapirman was cut short from his apparent intentions, and only had the opportunity to fire 24 shots before being gunned down by an armed civilian who was in the general proximity when the suspect fired into the unsuspecting shoppers.
22 year-old Elisjsha Dicken of Seymour, has been identified as the hero, being credited with saving potentially, hundreds of lives. According to Greenwood Police, Dicken was legally carrying his handgun, while firing 10 shots to take down the gunman.
AG Rokita declares legal victory with 20-state coalition suit
A U.S. district court recently barred the Biden administration from enforcing federal “guidance” to schools and employers relating to controversial transgender issues.
In June of 2021, the Biden administration issued directives through the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that purported to resolve issues such as whether schools and employers must allow individuals to use public bathrooms and showers of their choice — regardless of biological sex — and require use of people’s preferred pronouns.The guidance also pressed schools to allow biological males identifying as female to compete on girls’ sports teams.
As part of a 20-state coalition, on behalf of Indiana, Attorney General Rokita sued the Biden administration in August of 2021. On Friday, a U.S. district court issued a preliminary injunction against the federal guidance and stated the lawsuit against the Biden administration’s actions demonstrates “a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.”
IU government relations leader to step down
After 20 years of impactful service to Indiana University, Bill Stephan, Vice President for Government Relations and Economic Engagement, will retire from his full-time role with the university effective September 30th. In his current role, Stephan is responsible for coordinating and connecting IU’s intellectual and creative resources with strategic opportunities that foster the state’s economic growth, as well as directing IU’s government relations efforts at the state and federal level.
Stephan, described as a supportive leader and trusted partner, has primarily focused on addressing the interests and needs of the university’s external constituents and stakeholders since coming to IU in 2000. A lawyer by trade and IU McKinney School of Law alumnus, he also worked with the university’s health care partner, IU Health, as senior vice president for communications and community relations. Stephan will continue in a part-time role, working on strategic projects in the coming academic year. A search for a new leader will begin immediately, with the search committee being led by J T. Forbes, president and CEO of the IU Foundation.
This Week in Hoosier History
1919 – The United States Army motor convoy arrived at Fort Wayne. The 60 vehicles were escorted into the city where the trucks were parked and inspected by the public. The transcontinental trip of the big convoy was one of the greatest publicity stunts attempted in the history of the country. Its purpose was to boost the good roads movement and to stimulate recruiting. The convoy was to demonstrate the purpose of long-distance motor transportation.
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