Indianapolis Shooting Suspect Obsessed With 'My Little Pony', Posts About Applejack Before Rampage

KEY POINTS

Brandon Hole was obsessed with Applejack from My Little Pony
Hole posted about wanting to meet Applejack in the afterlife an hour before the shooting
The suspect had previously been investigated by the FBI for his potential for violence

Brandon Hole, the teen who killed eight people in a mass shooting at the Indianapolis FedEx facility on April 15, was reportedly obsessed with “My Little Pony.”

Hole’s Facebook page had reportedly been filled with posts indicating he was a member of the “Bronies,” a community consisting mostly of adult men who are fans of the "My Little Pony" toys and animated series, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Some members of the Bronies display far-right and extremist tendencies. Some also have revealed sexual attraction to the characters, and Hole, 19, was reportedly one of them.

“I hope that I can be with Applejack in the afterlife, my life has no meaning without her,” he wrote on his Facebook page at 10:19 p.m. Tuesday, an hour before his massacre at the FedEx facility. He turned the gun on himself after the attack.

An investigation after the incident found that Hole purchased two weapons — one in July 2020 and one in September 2020 — after the FBI investigated him for his potential for violence, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department revealed Sunday.

UPDATE-During Thursday’s incident, the suspect, Brandon Hole, was witnessed using assault rifles in the assault. ATF conducted a trace on the two weapons. IMPD learned that Brandon Hole purchased the rifles legally in July and September of 2020.
— IMPD (@IMPDnews) April 18, 2021

In March 2020, the suspect’s mother contacted authorities and warned them that Hole might try to commit “suicide by cop,” FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan said. He was later placed on an immediate detention mental health temporary hold. Officers also confiscated his shotgun, which was found in his residence.

At the time, a search of the suspect’s bedroom did not show any indication of a crime or a racially motivated ideology. Authorities did not return his shotgun.

"Based on items observed in the suspect's bedroom at that time, he was interviewed by the FBI in April 2020. No Racially Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE) ideology was identified during the course of the assessment and no criminal violation was found," Keenan said in a statement.

Hole’s family issued a statement on Saturday where they apologized to the victims and said they attempted to get the suspect help.

“We are devastated at the loss of life caused as a result of Brandon’s actions; through the love of his family, we tried to get him the help he needed. Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies go out to the victims of this senseless tragedy. We are so sorry for the pain and hurt being felt by their families and the entire Indianapolis community,” Hole’s family said.