What we do a week after shooting the Elkhart Martin and do not know

Elkhart, Ind. (Wndu) – It has been exactly a week since a shot in a grocery store in the heart of Elkhart had three people dead, injured two police officers and shaked one community.

While we learned a lot about what happened on the Martin’s supermarket on the E. Jackson Boulevard on the evening of January 27, there is still a lot that we do not know and work to learn.

Suspect: Juan Sanchez

The public prosecutor’s office of Elkhart County announced the Wndu 16 News that the 54-year-old Juan Sanchez is a “lawful constant resident” who has been “here for decades”.

Officials say that Sanchez had moved from Plano, Illinois, to the Elkhart County area in April 2024, about 55 miles west of Chicago.

While the public prosecutor’s office of Elkhart County says that the examination of the motivated Sanchez to open the fire in the business has not yet been completed, the prosecutor Vicki Becker announced during a press conference last Friday that he apparently aimed for young women and clearly “after a victim ”.

Prosecutors say they examine reports on suspicious behaviors in which Sanchez and other young women are involved.

“In any case, the young lady avoided further contact with Sanchez,” said Becker during the press conference. “It was reported that she had actually received a protective arrangement in the state of Illinois that it was almost three years ago a few years ago. And although a police report was created, no further documents were found in which additional formal measures were proven in this report. “

Officials say that there were no complaints about Sanchez to the police since he moved to the area of ​​Elkhart County.

Wndu 16 News has now contacted Elkhart County’s public prosecutor to see if a photo is available for Sanchez, but at that time it doesn’t seem to be available. Our team examines other ways to get a photo from Sanchez.

We also work to find out whether the weapon that Sanchez used in the shootout is a legally registered firearm. We asked officials, but we still have to receive another answer.

Victim: Annasue Rocha

According to the public prosecutor, the 19-year-old Annasue Rocha was an employee of Martin who worked in the self-examination area of ​​the business and took Sanchez ‘ID when he bought alcohol just a few moments before the shooting.

After taking his ID for a check in the register when she was trained, Rocha returned to Sanchez and then he allegedly pulled out a pistol and grabbed her wrist.

Becker says Rocha tried to communicate something while he was captured with the weapon held up, which attracted the attention of a customer who had reported to a manager.

When the manager tried to decalate the situation, Sanchez reported reported his gun and killed Rocha. Officials say he would shoot them several times before leaving the shop.

Rocha, who was only 19 years old, visited the Elkhart High School and completed in 2023. One of her former primary school teachers told our team that she was really unique. This teacher also said that she was the sweetest girl and such a joy to be nearby.

Rocha’s mother told us that she had complained about a customer for weeks who was bothering her in the shop. Her family tells us that the man never bought anything, but coordinated the description of the shooter.

In order to be clear, it was still not confirmed whether Sanchez and the harassing customer were the same person.

Sacrifice: Benjamin Jeffery

According to the public prosecutor, 49-year-old Benjamin Jeffery von Sanchez was shot when he shot other customers in the shop.

After Rocha had been shot, the manager reported that everyone else was running, and then the prosecutors have said that Sanchez shot the exit of the business with the manager and other customers.

Sanchez then allegedly turned and shot at others near the self -examination area that went towards the interior of the shop. Then Jeffery was shot.

In a post on Facebook, Elkhart County Ema calls him a lifelong friend and volunteer who continued to act with his hand over others. It also served with the Red Cross and other community organizations.

He was put to rest on Sunday.

Heroes: Cpl. Paul Vandenberg and Ptl. Ethan Pasternak

We know very little about Sanchez ‘encounter with the non -commissioned officer Paul Vandenburg and the patrol police officer Ethan Pasternak, since the public prosecutor’s office in Elkhart County did not present any updates on the use of investigations in civil servants on the use of armed forces last Friday.

What we know is that the encounter took place in front of the store in a nearby residential building. The prosecutors previously said that Sanchez had been shot by the officials after being fired on them several times.

Both officers were shot during the exchange and taken to the hospital. Cpl. Vandenburg was treated on the same night and released from the hospital, but ptl. According to Elkhart police chief Dan Milanesen, Ethan Pasternak was sent to the intensive care unit.

Ptl. Pasternak was released from the hospital on Thursday afternoon. He was accompanied by CPL. Vandenburg for his walk from the hospital. The two were greeted with support and many applause, appearing as a first aider from all over Michiana to celebrate and honor their way to recover.

The Elkhart police authority confirms with our team that both officers have a paid administrative vacation, the standard protocol, while the shootings of the officials are examined because they continue to recover from their injuries.

According to our reporting partners in the South Bend Tribune, the public prosecutor carries out its own review of the police’s use of violence. When the public prosecutor’s investigation is completed, the police authority will carry out an internal administrative review as part of the uniform nationwide guideline for fatal violence.

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