Two engineers of Indian origin shot in Kansas bar, one dead

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“On February 22nd, 2017, an intoxicated man hurling racial slurs opened fire inside a packed Kansas bar killing our dearest friend Srinivas Kuchibhotla,” says the GoFundme page created for the young engineer who worked at the technology company Garmin.

“Srini was the kindest person you would meet, full of love, care and compassion for everyone. He never uttered a word of hatred, a simple gossip, or a careless comment. He was brilliant, well mannered and simply an outstanding human being,” says the fundraising page (https://www.gofundme.com/srinus-familyrecovery-support) about the random killing by 51-year old Adam Purington, who shouted “Get out of my country” and fled the scene, later telling another bartender he had shot two “Middle Eastern” people.

Police finally caught Purington 80 miles away in Clinton, Missouri.

Kuchibhotla was at the bar with his friend Alok Madasani, who was also shot but is recovering, a spokesperson from Garmin told New York Daily News.

Ian Grillot, 24, who was at the bar and tried to intervene, was also hurt when Purington opened fire after confronting the Indian men. Purington has been charged with first degree murder and attempted murder.

Kuchibothla’s wife and family are in India.

According to the Hindu American Foundation, Kuchibhotla’s murder is the first reported bias-motivated fatality in the U.S. after the Presidential election.

“We call upon the US Department of Justice and local law enforcement to investigate this murder as what it is, a hate crime,” said Jay Kansara, HAF’s director of Government Relations.. “Anything less will be an injustice to the victims and their families,” Kansara added.

The HAF also urged anyone that has been harassed, assaulted or threatened with harm on the basis of their identity (e.g., race, religion, disability, ethnic origin, or sexual orientation), to report the incident to law enforcement immediately.

It called on community members to report any incidents involving vandalism, hateful graffiti, desecration, arson, or violence directed towards temples or other properties.