Victims Identified in Deadly Shooting at Martin’s Super Market in Elkhart

ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) — Officials have identified the victims of a deadly shooting at Martin’s Super Market on E. Jackson Boulevard in Elkhart that resulted in three deaths, including the suspect, and left two police officers injured.

Victims and Suspect Identified

The shooting occurred around 5:45 p.m. on Monday, January 28. Prosecutors report that 19-year-old Annasue Rocha and 49-year-old Benjamin Jeffery were fatally shot by the lone gunman inside the store. Rocha, an employee of Martin’s, and Jeffery, a customer, were both killed during the attack.

Following the shooting inside the store, the suspect, identified as 54-year-old Juan Sanchez, exited the building and was confronted by two Elkhart police officers. Sanchez reportedly fired multiple times at the officers, leading to an exchange of gunfire in which he was shot and killed.

police officers, victims, vigil

Injured Officers Recovering

The officers involved, Cpl. Paul Vandenburg and Ptl. Ethan Pasternak, were both injured in the confrontation. Cpl. Vandenburg was treated and released from the hospital, while Ptl. Pasternak remains in the ICU in fair but stable condition. Elkhart Police Chief Dan Milanese expressed hope for their recovery, stating, “We’re very hopeful and expecting them to continue being stable and hopefully moving forward in recovery.”

Cpl. Vandenburg has been with the Elkhart Police Department for over seven years, and Ptl. Pasternak has served nearly two years.

Community Reactions and Support

Elkhart officials, including Mayor Rod Roberson, expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and the wounded officers. Mayor Roberson shared a heartfelt message, saying, “Our hearts are broken in Elkhart tonight. Please continue to pray for the victims, including our two police officers who were wounded, our heroic first responders, and those at the incident.”

The Elkhart Police Department also confirmed that they are investigating both the actions of the gunman and the officers involved.

Vigil and Investigation

A vigil to honor the victims is planned for Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in the courtyard between Martin’s and Fiesta Mexicana. Pastor Clay Powell from Elkhart City Church will speak at the event.

The investigation is being led by the Elkhart County Homicide Unit. Officials have dismissed rumors about a potential domestic violence motive, emphasizing that they are not credible.

This incident follows another deadly shooting in Elkhart just hours earlier, which marked the second homicide-related investigation in the city within a 24-hour period.

Continued Community Resilience

In response to the tragedy, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) offered his support, praising local law enforcement for their bravery. He stated, “I am so grateful for the brave officers who ran into harm’s way in order to protect the innocent shoppers and am praying for their continued recovery.”

This is not the first time a Martin’s Super Market in Elkhart has been the site of a deadly incident. A similar tragedy occurred at the Martin’s on Bristol Street in January 2014.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *