Officials have released the names of those involved in the deadly shooting at Martin’s Super Market on East Jackson Boulevard in Elkhart.
19-year-old Annasue Rocha and 49-year-old Benjamin Jeffrey were killed by the gunman inside the store.
Rocha worked at the store and Jeffrey was a customer.
The gunman who then exchanged fire with police and died is Juan Sanchez, 54.
Patrolman Ethan Pasternak is still hospitalized in stable condition in the I-C-U.
Corporal Paul Vandenburg was treated and released.
Not much is known about the suspect, other than he moved to the area from Illinois within the past year.
Martin’s Super Markets has released a statement after the deadly shooting inside their store on East Jackson Boulevard in Elkhart.
The Martin’s statement says their team feels immeasurable sadness as they mourn the tragedy and the unimaginable loss of lives. They are working to best support the impacted families, Associates, the first responders, and the entire Elkhart community. They also say they’re thankful for the quick action of our Associates and police officers, and we’ll continue to work alongside police to support their investigation.
The shooting began inside the store around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 27.
When police arrived, they encountered an armed man in the parking lot and exchanged gunfire. Both officers were wounded during the confrontation but managed to wound the suspect as well.
Jessica McBrier, spokesperson for Elkhart police, confirmed that two people had already been killed inside the store before officers arrived. The suspect was also pronounced dead. She assured the public that the scene was no longer active and posed no further threat.
The injured officers were quickly taken to a hospital. One has been released, while the other remains hospitalized in good condition.
“Our hearts are broken in Elkhart,” said Mayor Rob Roberson, urging prayers for the victims, the officers, and first responders.
Below is the full news release from the Elkhart County Prosecutor:
January 27, 2025, was a tragic day in Elkhart County. Benjamin S. Jeffrey (49), and Annasue Rocha (19), both of Elkhart, were killed by a lone gunman at approximately 5:45 pm in the Martin’s Supermarket on East Jackson Boulevard in Elkhart, Indiana. Miss Rocha was an employee of Martin’s. Mr. Jeffrey was a customer at the time of the gunman’s attack. Numerous shots were fired by the gunman inside the store, and several additional people were in significant danger as a result of his actions.
The gunman then exited the store and was confronted by two (2) Elkhart Police Officers. The gunman fired multiple times at the officers who responded by shooting and killing him. Both police officers, Corporal Paul Vandenburg and Patrolman Ethan Pasternak, were struck by the suspect’s gunfire and are recovering from their injuries. One of the officers, Patrolman Pasternak, remains hospitalized at this time in fair and stable condition.
The suspect that killed both Mr. Jeffrey and Miss Rocha is identified as Juan M. Sanchez (54), who had moved to the area within the past year from Illinois.
The Elkhart County Homicide Unit was activated to investigate the entire incident, both the actions of the gunman, as well as the actions of the police officers. That investigation is actively underway with collection of numerous types of evidence, witness interviews, and the gathering of background information to answer the questions that are undoubtedly on everyone’s mind, especially “why.” However, that takes time and objectivity.
The Elkhart County Homicide Unit is a multi-jurisdictional investigative unit in Elkhart County that specializes in the investigations of all homicides, suicides, child deaths, suspicious deaths, and police use of deadly force events. As the investigation is ongoing, anyone with additional information should call 574-295-2825.
The Elkhart County Homicide Unit, as well as the Elkhart Police Department, are grateful for the assistance of numerous other agencies assisting the investigation, providing support to victims and witnesses, and working diligently to understand what led to this tragedy in an effort to protect the peace and dignity of our community.
6 comments
I would be curious about Sanchez’ immigration status. Was he a “proper person” under Indiana law to possess a firearm?
God help 🙏 with the injured and please send Your Holy Comforter to the families of those who lost their lives from this.
Bring back store security.. Eliminated by corporation when Martin’s was sold. Might have had a different outcome. Video surveillance is not the answer.
This store has security personnel I see them every day. Not eliminated by corporation.
Yes, I am quite curious about the late Mr Sanchez’s citizenship, and if it wasn’t American, whether he was in the country legally. If he wasn’t, and if he arrived in the last four years, I suppose his acts could be considered late arriving gifts, and probably not even close to the last, of the Biden administration to the American people.
One thing about Biden: wherever he rests, poor James Buchanan has been absolved of the blame for being America’s worst President. It is true that it was Lincoln who insisted that the United States was an indissoluble nation, not a country of states, any one of which could withdraw from the Union if it wished. Buchanan can’t be blamed for lacking imagination and the benevolent narcissism spliced with a strain of piratical zest which it took to make up a Lincoln. Biden was always a twit. He decided he wanted to be President when he was a boy, around the time JFK was elected.
“Gee, I’d like to do that,” he has said he thought at the time.
Having said that, my condolences, meaningless though they may be, to the bereaved.
I’d also like to know the perp’s criminal record. Bet he has one.
When will we hears he was on a law enforcement agency’s “radar.”