Hate Crime: US man guns down Indian engineer in Kansas city bar, another wounded
According to media reports, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, who was working at the Garmin headquarters in Olathe, was killed in the shooting on Wednesday night, while his colleagues Alok Madasani and Ian Grillot, an American, who reportedly tried to save the Indians, were also injured in the shooting.
According to The Kansas City Star, the Olathe man who reportedly told the victims to “get out of my country” before he shot them in an Olathe bar was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of one of the victims.
The killer has been identified as 51-year-old Adam W. Purinton. “It was a tragic and senseless act of violence,” said Olathe Police Chief Steven Menke.
According to Kansas City Star, Kuchibhotla died at a hospital after the 7:15 p.m. shooting in Austins Bar & Grill near 151st Street and Mur-Len Road.
The victim's company Garmin issued a public statement: “We’re saddened that two Garmin associates were involved in last night’s incident, and we express our condolences to the family and friends of our co-workers involved. Garmin will have grievance counselors on-site and available for its associates today and tomorrow."
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed her shock at the incident: " I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotia has been killed. My hearfelt condolences to the bereaved family," she tweeted.
The accused is reportedly a Navy veteran.
The Indian consulate said Consul Ravindra Joshi and Vice Consul Harpal Singh rushed to Kansas to assist the shooting victim.
Meanwhile, support started pouring in as a page was created on GoFundMe by someone to help the victim's family.
A post on the site read: "My name is Brian Ford and I live in Shawnee, KS. (About 15 minutes from the location of the shooting at Austins bar and grill in Olathe, KS.)
"I am not related to either victim, but have a close friend who works at Garmin, where Srinivas and Alok both worked. I was motivated to start this page the morning after the shooting because I couldn't find a way to donate to the two men who were targeted. (A third victim was shot when he stepped in to help - his sister had already set up a funding page for his medical care.)"
"Any raised funds are expected to be used for medical and funeral expenses, as needed."
Alok Madasani who survived the attack
Image: Facebook
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