INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A senseless act of violence on a quiet residential street has landed Tony Cushingberry, 24, of Indianapolis, a 30-year federal prison sentence. Cushingberry pleaded guilty to murder and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence for the cold-blooded shooting of U.S. Postal Service employee Angela Summers on April 27, 2020.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded on North Denny Street. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 3:57 p.m. They found Summers, a dedicated letter carrier, lying on the porch of a home, already critically wounded. Summers was simply performing her duty, delivering mail, when Cushingberry’s rage turned deadly.
Witnesses and evidence revealed a disturbing escalation. Cushingberry, sitting on his own porch, watched Summers approach a neighboring residence. He then aggressively confronted her, repeatedly demanding his mail. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as Cushingberry pursued Summers, brandishing a handgun before ultimately firing a single shot into her chest from just a few feet away. He then fled the scene, attempting to conceal the weapon in a nearby garage.
A swift investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF, and IMPD quickly connected Cushingberry to the crime. A search of his home uncovered a safe filled with ammunition, including the same caliber as the bullet that killed Summers. Summers was rushed to Eskenazi Hospital, but succumbed to her injuries at 5:31 p.m. that same day. The callousness of the act shocked the community and ignited a relentless pursuit of justice.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, delivered a scathing condemnation of Cushingberry’s actions. “Angela Summers was a beloved family member and public servant, and she should be alive today,” Myers stated. “No term of imprisonment will bring Angela back, but the sentence imposed today demonstrates that those who kill will face judgment and accountability.” Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division, echoed the sentiment, offering condolences to Summers’ loved ones and hoping the sentence provides some measure of closure.
U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson imposed the 30-year sentence, along with three years of supervised release upon Cushingberry’s eventual release from prison. The case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by those who serve the public and the unwavering commitment of federal agencies to bring violent offenders to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayson W. McGrath and Peter A. Blac led the prosecution.
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