'Get out of my country!' Navy veteran shoots dead Indian immigrant in US bar
Olathe: Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 51-year-old man with murder and attempted murder after he allegedly opened fire in a crowded suburban Kansas City bar, killing one man and injuring two others, but authorities declined to say if the attack was racially-motivated.
A bartender at Austins Bar and Grill in Oathe, Kansas, said that Adam Purinton, 51, used "racial slurs" before he started shooting on Wednesday night as patrons were watching the University of Kansas-TCU basketball game on television.
Purinton was reportedly a Naval veteran.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, died at an area hospital, police said. Alok Madasani, 32, and Ian Grillot, 24, were hospitalized and are in stable condition, they said. Witnesses said Grillot had stepped in and tried to stop the shooter. The Linked-in accounts for Kuchibhotla and Madasani say that they were engineers working at GPS-maker Garmin, who had studied in India.
According to reports, the man shouted “get out of my country” before he opened fire.
Bartender Garret Bohnen told the Kansas City Star that Kuchibhotla and Madasani stopped at Austins for a drink once or twice a week.
"From what I understand when he was throwing racial slurs at the two gentlemen (Kuchibhotla and Madasani), Ian (Grillot) stood up for them," Bohnen said. "We're all proud of him."
Olathe Police Chief Steve Menke declined to comment on the reports of racial comments, but said they were working with the FBI "to investigate any and all aspects of this horrific crime."
Purinton was taken into custody just after midnight on Thursday morning at an Applebee's about 70 miles to the southeast of Olathe in Clinton, Missouri, authorities said.
Assistant Clinton Police Chief Sonny Lynch said an Applebee's bartender summoned police to the bar where the man was drinking after he said that he had just shot 'middle eastern' men and needed a place to hide, it was reported.
The unarmed Purinton was taken into custody and interviewed by detectives from Olathe.
"He mentioned he had been involved in a shooting and we went out there and picked him up," Lynch said.
Meanwhile, EAM Sushma Swaraj offered her condolences to the bereaved family, adding that India would provide all assistance and help to the victim's family.
"I am shocked at the shooting incident in Kansas in which Srinivas Kuchibhotla has been killed. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family. We will provide all help and assistance to the bereaved family," she tweeted.
She further informed that the Indian Ambassador in US Navtej Sharma has informed her that Alok Madasani, who was injured in the incident, has been discharged from the hospital.
Meanwhile, RD Joshi, Consulate General of India, Houston and Vice Consulate H Singh have rushed to Kansas to assist the shooting victim.
"I have spoken to Indian Ambassador in US Navtej Sarna. He informed me that two Indian Embassy officials have rushed to Kansas," she tweeted.
