Indianapolis postal worker’s killer sentenced to three decades in prison

Indianapolis, Indiana – A federal judge has handed down a 30-year prison sentence to a man convicted of fatally shooting an Indianapolis postal worker.

Tony Cushingberry, who had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, received the sentence during a recent sentencing hearing.

The court recommended his incarceration at FCI Greenville, a medium-security facility. Upon his release, Cushingberry will be placed on supervised release for a period of three years, as stipulated in the sentencing order.

The judge also recommended mental health and substance abuse treatment, along with vocational training and higher education classes for Cushingberry during his time in prison. It should be noted that the maximum sentence for the crime was life imprisonment.

According to court documents, the United States Postal Service had suspended delivery to Cushingberry’s residence due to an aggressive dog.

On April 27, 2020, Cushingberry confronted the victim, Angela Summers, on North Denny Street, expressing his dissatisfaction with the lack of mail delivery.

The confrontation escalated as he aggressively approached Summers, who sought refuge on a neighbor’s porch. Fearing for her safety, she used pepper spray on Cushingberry.

In response, he retrieved a handgun from his waistband and shot Summers, causing her to collapse on the porch. Cushingberry fled the scene but was apprehended by the police the following day.

He admitted to shooting the mail carrier but claimed that his intention was to intimidate rather than kill her. Unfortunately, Summers succumbed to her injuries at a hospital after being struck in the chest.

Eyewitnesses to the altercation provided crucial testimony, aiding in the arrest and subsequent conviction of Cushingberry.