Indian Shop Owner Shot Dead During Robbery In Front Of Teen Daughter In US

A 56-year-old Indian man has been shot dead during a robbery inside his shop in the US, with the suspect still on the run. The victim, identified as Suresh Parsottamdas Patel from Gujarat's Mehsana, was killed during an armed robbery at his shop in Tennessee's Jackson on August 20.

Patel had reportedly opened his new shop, Ridgecrest Cellars, just a few days before the incident.

The police said they received a call around 9 pm about the robbery and the shooting at the shop.

According to witnesses, the unidentified suspect entered the shop, showed a weapon, and demanded cash from the employees, the police said in a post on Facebook.

After taking the money from the employee, he fired multiple shots, striking Patel. His 19-year-old daughter was reportedly standing next to him when he was shot.

A 70-year-old employee, who had worked there since the store opened, also reportedly fell and broke her wrist during the incident.

The police described the suspect as a Black male wearing a grey hoodie, jeans, and black work-style boots.

"His face was covered with a paintball-style mask, and he was seen fleeing the business in a white sedan," the police said and released three pictures from the store.

"Pall Of Gloom Descended" Over His Village

A resident from Patel's village in Mehsana said that he had been living in the United States for nearly 30 years.

"A pall of gloom has descended over Aakhaj village in Mehsana district following the tragic news," he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

"Suresh Patel had been living in Chicago for a long time and had started his new store in Jackson City just a week before the incident," he said.

"The incident has left villagers deeply concerned, with fear and anxiety growing among people over such crimes being reported in the United States," he added.