Indiana Kroger Mass Shooter “Always Wanted to Kill Somebody”
20-year-old Richard Klaff Jr. is facing three counts of attempted murder after a mass shooting in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the East State Boulevard Kroger grocery store. Klaff Jr. went live on Facebook, brandished a handgun, and told viewers he was going to shoot people so they should record his live stream.
Then he lit a cigar and walked out of the store’s bathroom, saying “Let me find someone good real quick,” and walking through the store, adding “I ain’t going to kill no old ass man.”
He continued walking around the store waving his gun around before he opened fire, saying “I’m going out with a bang,” and he says, “I see one” five times as he walks towards the bakery and opens fire on a customer and two employees. Crime scene technicians found two waist height gunshot holes just to the right of where they were standing and two more above the kitchen door. Klaff then fled to a bank across the street.
Police found his gun, phone and wallet in a dumpster nearby. While being interrogated, Klaff asked police if anyone died, and when detectives asked if he was searching for a particular victim to shoot, Klaff said he didn’t want to shoot anyone old, then asked how many people he shot.
Klaff allegedly told police he chose who to shoot based on them not taking cover, then told police he “always wanted to kill someone,” according to the affidavit, adding, “That’s all I wanted to do, I was supposed to go to the military, I couldn’t wait on that, obviously.”
Klaff is facing one count of criminal recklessness in addition to the three counts of attempted murder, which together carry a potential sentence of 126 years. Subscribers can see the livestream footage as well as the probable cause affidavit below.