Tragic Shooting Claims Lives of Indian Father and Daughter in Virginia
A 56-year-old father and his 24-year-old daughter were fatally shot at a Virginia store where they worked. The shooter, George Wharton, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The incident has caused distress within the Indian community in the US, following a similar case in North Carolina.
On Thursday, in Virginia, a tragic shooting resulted in the death of an Indian father and daughter, aged 56 and 24 respectively, who were employed at a local departmental store. The incident occurred shortly after the store’s opening when the shooter, George Frazier Devon Wharton, 44, arrived intending to purchase liquor. Reports indicate that he questioned the store’s nighttime closure before opening fire on Pradeep Patel and his daughter Urmi. While Pradeep Patel died instantly, Urmi later succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.
The victims hailed from the Mehsana district in Gujarat, India, and had relocated to the United States six years prior. They worked at a convenience store owned by a relative, Paresh Patel, who expressed his grief in a statement to WAVY TV. He shared, “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 Hansaben Patel are also parents to two other daughters, one residing in Canada and the other in Ahmedabad.
George Wharton has been charged with first-degree murder among other serious allegations, including violations of felony and arms laws. This double murder has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in the United States, reminiscent of the prior tragedy involving Mainank Patel, a 36-year-old Indian-origin store owner fatally shot during a robbery in North Carolina.
This tragic incident highlights the increasing violence faced by individuals within immigrant communities in the United States. The loss of Pradeep and Urmi Patel has deeply affected their family and the broader Indian community, raising concerns about safety and the need for stronger protections against such violent acts.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
