Kroger Employee Fatally Shot Outside Indy Store

INDIANAPOLIS -- Police said they were trying to determine who fatally shot a longtime employee of a southwest-side Indianapolis Kroger store in the business's parking lot early Monday.

Wendall Anderson, 58, was shot once in the chest as he arrived at work at about 5 a.m., police said. A store security camera showed that shortly before the shooting, Anderson spoke to a man who emerged from a white car containing two other people, Indianapolis police Lt. Doug Scheffel said.

---

Images: Kroger Employee Fatally Shot Outside Store

---

"It almost appears that he's giving directions," Scheffel said. "He's pointing, you can see his arm."

Workers inside the store said that when they heard the gunfire, they ran to the back and called 911. Anderson entered the store and said that he'd been shot, Scheffel said.

"Then he collapsed and didn't say anything else to anybody," Scheffel said.

Anderson, who worked for Kroger for 39 years, was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital, where he died less than two hours after the shooting, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.

Police said they were looking for three people in a late-model, white four-door Kia. The car had license plate No. 8233181, possibly from either Illinois or California.

"We're looking for anyone who would have information about that particular car," Scheffel said.

Police said they weren't sure why Anderson was shot. They said his wallet was not taken.

Bob Moder, a Kroger representative, said Anderson's death was "a loss ... for the entire community."

"Wendall Anderson was tremendous. He was a dedicated employee. He worked for us for 39 years," Moder said. "We've spoken with Wendall's wife, and we've expressed to her our deepest sympathy."

Investigators asked anyone with information about the shooting to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS.

Stay with 6News and TheIndyChannel.com for updates.