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Kroger manager who shot would-be robber at Indianapolis store resigns

Thursday, February 2, 2012
Elijah Elliott

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Kroger grocery store manager who fatally wounded a would-be robber inside an Indianapolis store on Dec. 26 has resigned.

North Putnam High School graduate Elijah "Levi" Elliott, 24, assured a news conference in Indianapolis Wednesday that he was not being pressured to leave Kroger, even though the grocery store chain has a policy prohibiting employees from bringing a handgun or any other weapon to work.

Elliott, a Wabash College graduate who had worked his way up the managerial ladder at Kroger, shot and killed a 26-year-old Indianapolis man after the intruder forced an employee of the West 71st Street store into the office and then charged Elliott.

"It's a regrettable situation, and I do think about it every single day," Elliott said of the fatally shooting of Jeremy Atkinson.

"I wish the situation never happened," he added.

Elliott read a statement announcing his resignation, stressing that Kroger has been supportive and offered to let him keep his job.

Elliot said he has had a permit to carry a handgun for three years and knew he was violating a company policy banning employees from carrying weapons while on the job.

Nonetheless, Elliott said he feared for his life and does not regret his actions.

"I hoped I would never have had to use my weapon for protection," he said. "But Mr. Atkinson chose to commit a violent and dangerous act."

Witness testimony and surveillance footage indicate Atkinson stuck an object in the back of unarmed security guard, and ordered her into the office. A second Kroger employee saw Atkinson grab the security guard in a chokehold and shove her against a wall.

That employee hollered for Elliott, and when the store manager responded, the suspect reportedly let the guard go and lunged instead at Elliott, who fired his gun at Atkinson.

"At that point, he charged after me in an office where I had no position to retreat. That's all it is," Elliott added.

Under Indiana law, a shooting can be justified to prevent the commission of a forcible felony (robbery and criminal confinement) and for self-defense and defense of others.

Elliott, formerly of Bainbridge, said Wednesday that Kroger has been supportive of him. However, after talking with family and his attorney (David Seiter) he decided to resign to put the incident behind him.

At the time of the incident, Atkinson had an outstanding warrant out of Marion Criminal Court. In that case, he had been charged with robbery, as well as multiple counts of criminal confinement. He received a six-year executed sentence and had been released to community corrections.

But he violated community corrections, and last February a warrant was issued for his arrest. That warrant was still outstanding at the time of the Dec. 26 incident.

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  • Alway more to the story. 3 sides: (2) both involved and (1) truth

    -- Posted by carebuttonbroke on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 9:56 AM

  • If there is alway (sic) more to the story, why doesn't some investigative reporter go to work and uncover it?

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 10:03 AM

  • More to the story?? The article talks about security footage showing the perp "stuck an object in the back of unarmed security guard", witnesses say the perf choked the guard (I wouldn't be a security guard without a weapon in Indy), and then "cornered" the store manager resulting in the perp being shot and killed.

    Pretty cut and dry to me.

    Yes, the manager violated company policy by having the weapon on his person inside the store, but he obviously had a personal carry permit.

    The perp was no stranger to the judicial system. I feel bad for his family, sure, but the bottom line is - some lessons are tougher than others. It's unfortunate he had to lose his life to learn this one.

    Of course, had the manager NOT had a weapon - who knows how many lives would have been lost that day. What we DO know is, IF the perp would have been charged with the crime - he'd get out with a slap on the wrist. Now, let's talk injustice.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 11:46 AM

  • Emmes, I completely agree. I know Levi and his family personally and they are a wonderful family. I know Levi would NEVER hurt someone intentionally and felt he was protecting his employees and himself. Put yourself in his shoes? What would you do if someone was threatening harm to yourself and your friends? Seriously....

    While Levi should not have had his gun at work...I also shudder to think what may have happened had he not. I pray for peace for the family of the attacker. But, especially for Levi and his family as they do not deserve any ill will towards them. Again, try to put yourself in their shoes.....

    I know Levi would never have wanted to intentionally harm someone and felt he had no choice but to protect himself and his coworkers. May God be with all of them in this very sad tragedy....

    -- Posted by John3:16 on Thu, Feb 2, 2012, at 2:05 PM
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