Indian-origin businessman shot dead in Columbus, GA

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Amit Kumar Patel, owner of a gas station in Columbus, Georgia, was shot dead the morning of Monday, December 6, 2021, outside the bank where he had gone to deposit his earnings. The GoFundMe page says Amit K. Patel was originally from Dharmaj, living in Nadiad, Gujarat before coming to the U.S. with his wife Roshni.

The Synovus bank where he was depositing his money is just a few feet away from the police station which is housed in the same building, the Ledger Enquirer reported. The killer ran away with the money, a weekend’s earnings from Patel’s business, his partner Vinnie Patel told the Ledger Enquirer.

Amit K. Patel was the owner of the Pyramid gas station on Buena Vista Road, the same street where the bank and the police station are located. He was getting ready to celebrate his daughter’s 3^rd birthday, his partner told the newspaper.

Vinnie Patel described his late partner as a good man, very intelligent, who ran his business smoothly.

Amit Kumar Patel, 45, was pronounced dead shortly after 10 a.m. according to news reports quoting the police. The WTVM station reported the Muscogee County Coroner’s Office confirmed it was a homicide

The GoFundMe page for Amit Kumar Patel, https://www.gofundme.com/f/amitpatelcolumbusga titled “Amit Patel’s Fundraiser-Robbery Victim Columbus, GA, was set up following his death by a man named Parimal Desai on behalf of the dead man’s wife Roshaniben Patel, the website says. It has so far raised $146,424 of its goal of $500,000, from more than 1,000 donors.

“A very hardworking young man, who was headed to deposit his hard-earned money at the bank, gets robbed and killed on the day of his daughter’s birthday” the site says quoting from news reports. “Now it’s a milestone the little girl may never forget, because of her father’s death on her birthday,” it says quoting from the Ledger Enquirer report.

“Amit was one of the most loving, calm, and gentle souls we knew and if you had the opportunity to meet him you would know the warmth of a great man and father,” the GoFundMe page says.

“With all of the emotional pain and stress that death brings, his wife now faces the task of being the sole caregiver for his 3-year-old daughter, 91-year-old handicapped grandmother-in-law, retired father-in-law, and disabled mother-in-law with polio. Amit was the primary breadwinner and after this incident, his family is left without a steady source of income,” it goes on to say.

“We are trying to collect donations so that his family can have some time to adjust. In order to help support the grieving family, we ask you to donate any money possible. Every penny counts!” it urges donors. The money will be withdrawn by his wife, it adds.

Friends and associates left condolence messages on the

GoFundMe site, among them ‘Mike First (cigar Florida guy) who donated $200.

“To the family of my very loyal customer and owner of the Pyramid convenience store, I am sorry for your loss. From my family to yours, we send our deepest condolences. We will keep your family in our prayers and ask that you may find some sort of comfort during your time of mourning. With love, First Distribution (Florida cigar man) & the entire First family,” the Florida cigar guy wrote.

Bantwal Baliga donated $1,000, saying, “Amitbhai was one of the sweetest and kindest person I have met. Feel really sorry that he left all of us so early! Hope God gives a lot of strength to his Family! With Prayers!”