Indian Father and Daughter Fatally Shot in Virginia Store Incident

A 56-year-old Indian man and his 24-year-old daughter were shot dead in a Virginia store where they worked. The suspect has been arrested and charged. The Indian community in the US is shocked by the incident, reminiscent of a previous shooting involving an Indian-origin store owner.

An Indian father and daughter were tragically shot dead at a department store in Virginia, USA, where they were employed. The incident occurred shortly after the store opened on Thursday morning. The suspect, George Frazier Devon Wharton, 44, was arrested for the double murder. Reports indicate that he visited the store seeking liquor and questioned its night-time closure before opening fire on Pradeep Patel and his daughter, Urmi, resulting in Pradeep’s immediate death and Urmi’s subsequent death at the hospital.

Pradeep Patel, 56, alongside his daughter Urmi, 24, hailed from the Mehsana district of Gujarat, India, and had relocated to the United States six years prior. The father-daughter duo worked at a convenience store owned by a relative, Paresh Patel. In a statement to WAVY TV, Paresh Patel expressed his grief, confirming the identities of the victims: “My cousin’s wife and her dad were working this morning. Some guy came here and just shot. I don’t know what to do.” Pradeep and his wife Hansaben have two additional daughters, one residing in Canada and the other in Ahmedabad.

The charges against Wharton include first-degree murder along with multiple felony and firearms-related offenses. This violent act has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in the United States, echoing a recent tragedy where Mainank Patel, a 36-year-old Indian-origin man, was killed during a robbery at a convenience store in North Carolina.

The tragic shooting of an Indian father and daughter in Virginia has garnered attention and highlighted concerns regarding violence in the community. The perpetrator has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, while the incident has profoundly affected the Indian diaspora in the United States, reminiscent of a prior similar incident. The community calls for justice as they mourn the loss of Pradeep and Urmi Patel.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com