Man Upset Over Not Receiving His Mail Admits To Fatally Shooting Postal Worker

An Indianapolis man admitted to fatally shooting a postal worker as he was upset about not receiving his mail, authorities said.

Tony Cushingberry, 23, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of a mail carrier, 45-year-old Angela Summers, on April 27, 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern Indiana said in a news release on Wednesday.

Cushingberry got agitated after his mail was not delivered due to issues with a dog at his home. The mail, which was put on hold, had to be collected from the post office, court records showed.

While Summers was delivering the mail, Cushingberry aggressively approached her, asking about the status of his mail. He followed Summers as she backed away to a neighbor's porch, prompting her to reach for a can of defensive spray that she used against him.

Cushingberry suddenly took out a handgun from his waistband and shot her in the chest. Summers collapsed on the scene and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

During interrogation, Cushingberry admitted to the murder, claiming he did not intend to kill Summers but just scare her, NBC News reported.

"Letter carrier Summers was a dedicated public servant simply doing her job when she was senselessly murdered," U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers said in the news release.

"Our office will work with our law enforcement partners to hold criminals accountable for violent attacks on government officials. While no prosecution will bring the victims of gun violence home to their families, we will work tirelessly to protect the public and bring violent criminals to justice," Myers added.

Cushingberry will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Meanwhile, USPS Inspector-in-Charge Rodney Hopkins believes the verdict will serve as a deterrent to criminals who threaten the safety of their employees.

"This judicial outcome demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that all USPS employees can come to work and serve the public without having to endure an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and we hope that this case's resolution will serve as a deterrent to those criminal actors who threaten the fundamental right of a safe work environment for our nation’s postal employees," Hopkins said.