An Indiana man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after gunning down a postal worker as she was delivering mail, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Indiana.
Tony Cushingberry, 24, has been convicted of shooting U.S. Postal worker Angela Summers on April 27, 2020, as she was delivering mail in Indianapolis, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office stated.
Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for 2020 Murder of a U.S. Postal Service Employee.@IMPDnews, @ATFColumbus, and @USPISpressroom investigated: https://t.co/szO7tSMB04 pic.twitter.com/7j6gdYxtsA
— SDINnews (@SDINnews) June 1, 2023
Cushingberry was reportedly sitting on his porch when Summers walked past his home on her mail route and proceeded to deliver mail to his neighbor. Previously, the U.S. Post Office had sent Cushingberry notices that mail would not be delivered to his home due to the presence of an “aggressive” small dog, Fox 59 reported.
Upset about the interruption of his male delivery, Cushingberry approached Summers, demanding his own mail, prompting Summer to spray him with mace, according to a previous release from the U.S. Attorney’s office. Cushingberry then pulled out a handgun from his waistband and shot Summers in the chest, the release stated. When officers arrived on the scene, they found an injured Summers lying on the front porch of a residence. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries, according to the release. (RELATED: Postal Worker Dies After Being Attacked By Pack Of Dogs In Florida)
A beloved and active member of her community, Summers was honored by those on her postal route who marked her tragic death with black ribbons on their mail boxes. Cushingberry pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree over her death in July 2022, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“Angela Summers was a beloved family member and public servant, and she should be alive today. She was taken from those who cared for her by the defendant’s evil decision to gun her down while she was simply doing her job,” Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, stated in the release.
“Our communities should not have to live in fear of every conflict leading to gun violence. No term of imprisonment will bring Angela back, but the sentence imposed today demonstrates that those who kill will face judgment and accountability. I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to seek justice in this case,” Myers continued.