A gunman opened fire in Greenwood Park Mall, Indiana killing four and leaving two injured. The individual was shot and killed by another armed mallgoer. The police are hailing the second individual, a 22-year-old from Bartholomew County, as a “real hero” and ‘Good Samaritan’. 

However, this yet-unnamed individual has faced some online flak for carrying a gun into the mall, which is marked as private property and doesn’t allow firearms to be carried inside.  

A good samaritan is someone who pauses and helps another person in an emergency, without the expectation of anything in return. However, one might face the consequences of offering assistance which is why Indiana has its Good Samaritan Laws or Doctrines, which outline some rules to protect people voluntarily helping those in need. 

Indiana Good Samaritan law 

As per the state’s law, a person “who comes upon the scene of an emergency or accident and who, in good faith, gratuitously renders emergency care” is immune from civil liability and any personal injury that might arise from them offering help. 

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The state’s Good Samaritan laws are focused on protecting healthcare workers and emergency personnel. While the law offers immunity in state trials, it doesn’t protect one from federal lawsuits. 

Does Good Samaritan law apply to the man who killed Greenwood mall shooter? 

No, the Good Samaritan law is only applicable for civil cases and when a person’s actions lead to another’s life being saved. The individual who took out his own gun to kill the gunman might have saved the lives of others at the mall, but also killed the gunman in the process. 

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As per legal sites, claiming self-defence rather than the Good Samaritan argument is a better way to go in such a situation. 

Meanwhile, Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers lauded the Good Samaritan’s actions in a Facebook post, saying “This person saved lives tonight. On behalf of the City of Greenwood, I am grateful for his quick action and heroism in this situation.”