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Killing of Indian man in Kansas bar investigated as possible hate crime Killing of Indian man in Kansas bar investigated as possible hate crime
(35 minutes later)
An Indian man has been shot dead in a bar in Kansas in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.An Indian man has been shot dead in a bar in Kansas in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed in Olathe on Wednesday evening. Another Indian man, Alok Madasani, also 32, was wounded in the shooting. Adam Purinton, 51, has been charged with murder. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed in Olathe on Wednesday evening. Another Indian man, Alok Madasani, 32, was wounded in the shooting. Adam Purinton, 51, has been charged with murder.
At least one bystander told the Kansas City Star that Purinton shouted “get out of my country” before the shooting. He is also accused of wounding American Ian Grillot, 24, who was shot when he tried to intervene, the Star reported. At least one bystander told the Kansas City Star that Purinton allegedly shouted “get out of my country” before the shooting. He is also accused of wounding American Ian Grillot, 24, who was shot when he tried to intervene, the Star reported.
Two officials from the Indian consulate in Houston were going to Kansas to meet the injured men and police to “ascertain more details of the incident and monitor follow up action”, the Indian ministry of external affairs spokesman, Vikas Swarup, said in a statement. Two officials from the Indian consulate in Houston were going to Kansas to meet the injured men and police to “ascertain more details of the incident and monitor follow-up action”, the Indian ministry of external affairs spokesman, Vikas Swarup, said in a statement.
“I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family,” the minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, tweeted.“I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family,” the minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, tweeted.
The US embassy in Delhi condemned the shooting. “The United States is a nation of immigrants and welcomes people from across the world to visit, work, study, and live,” the US chargé d’affaires, MaryKay Carlson, said in a statement. The US embassy in Delhi condemned the shooting. “The United States is a nation of immigrants and welcomes people from across the world to visit, work, study and live,” the US chargé d’affaires, MaryKay Carlson, said in a statement.
“US authorities will investigate thoroughly and prosecute the case, though we recognize that justice is small consolation to families in grief.“ “US authorities will investigate thoroughly and prosecute the case, though we recognize that justice is small consolation to families in grief.”
The Johnson County district attorney, Steve Howe, would not elaborate on details of the incident or the motive for the shooting. “We want to be able to be sure about our facts versus speculation. So we are not prepared at this point to talk about the particular facts of the case because this is still very fresh,” he said. The Johnson county district attorney, Steve Howe, would not elaborate on the details of the incident or the motive for the shooting. “We want to be able to be sure about our facts versus speculation. So we are not prepared at this point to talk about the particular facts of the case because this is still very fresh,” he said.
Kavipriya Muthuramalingam, a friend and former colleague of the victim, has raised more than $250,000 via a crowd-funding website to help his family with funeral expenses. Kavipriya Muthuramalingam, a friend and former colleague of Kuchibhotla, has raised more than $250,000 via a crowdfunding website to help his family with funeral expenses.
“This came as an incredible shock – as he is one of the most gentle, nicest human beings you would meet,” Muthuramalingam said. “He was non-confrontational, non-controversial, easy-going, always smiling.“ “This came as an incredible shock – as he is one of the most gentle, nicest human beings you would meet,” Muthuramalingam said. “He was non-confrontational, non-controversial, easy-going, always smiling.”
The killing led news bulletins in India and drew strong reactions on social media, amid growing concerns that Donald Trump’s “America first” rhetoric on immigration and jobs has fuelled a climate of intolerance.The killing led news bulletins in India and drew strong reactions on social media, amid growing concerns that Donald Trump’s “America first” rhetoric on immigration and jobs has fuelled a climate of intolerance.
Siddharth, a well-known South Indian actor, tweeted to his 2.6 million followers:Siddharth, a well-known South Indian actor, tweeted to his 2.6 million followers:
Don't be shocked! Be angry! Trump is spreading hate. This is a hate crime! RIP #SrinivasKuchibhotla https://t.co/BHiSY7SiCHDon't be shocked! Be angry! Trump is spreading hate. This is a hate crime! RIP #SrinivasKuchibhotla https://t.co/BHiSY7SiCH
Kuchibhotla’s Facebook page, on which he called himself “Srinu”, said he studied for a master’s degree in electronics at the University of Texas in El Paso from 2005-07. He was married but had no children.
Kuchibhotla’s Facebook page, where he called himself “Srinu“, said he took a master’s degree in electronics from the University of Texas in El Paso from 2005-07. He was married but had no children. The FBI said it was investigating whether the incident was a hate crime. “We are looking at whether the crime was committed via bias motivation. We are really at the preliminary stage of looking at every aspect,” said Eric Jackson, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Kansas City field office, during the news conference.
The FBI was investigating whether the incident was a hate crime. “We are looking at whether the crime was committed via bias motivation. We are really at the preliminary stage at looking at every aspect,” said Eric Jackson, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Kansas City field office, during the news conference. There was a wave of reported hate crimes in the US, including a spike in the number of anti-immigrant incidents, during the first month after Trump’s election in November, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported.
There was a wave of reported hate crimes in the UK, including a spike in the number of anti-immigrant incidents, during the first month after Trump’s election in November, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported.
Kuchibhotla and Madasani were aviation systems engineers at a company called Garmin, the Star reported.Kuchibhotla and Madasani were aviation systems engineers at a company called Garmin, the Star reported.
Purinton ran from the bar and was apprehended five hours later at an Applebee’s restaurant in Clinton, Missouri, where he reportedly told an employee he needed a place to hide out because he had just killed two Middle Eastern men, the Star reported.
The suspect fled from the bar on foot and was apprehended five hours later at an Applebee’s restaurant in Clinton, Missouri, where he reportedly told an employee he needed a place to hide out because he had just killed two Middle Eastern men, the Star reported.
Purinton, who was not armed, was arrested without incident, the newspaper reported.Purinton, who was not armed, was arrested without incident, the newspaper reported.
Purinton, a navy veteran, was being held on a $2m bond in the Henry County jail, where he waived his right to fight extradition to Johnson County, the paper reported. The navy veteran was being held on a $2m bond in the Henry county jail, where he waived his right to fight extradition to Johnson county, the paper reported.