US: Vigil held for Indian victim Srinivas Kuchibhotla killed in Kansas

PTI | Updated: Feb 26, 2017, 01:44 PM IST

In this undated photo provided by Kranti Shalia, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, left, poses for photo with his wife Sunayana Dumala in Las Vegas. In the middle of a crowded bar, a 51-year-old former air traffic controller yelled at two Indian men - Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani - to "get out of my country," witnesses said, then opened fire in an attack that killed one of the men and wounded the other, as well as a third man who tried to help, Thursday, Feb 23, 2017, in Olathe, Kan.

An Indian engineer was killed when an American man opened fire at him after he allegedly yelled "get out of my country" in Kansas city (US).

Family and friends of the Indian engineer who was shot dead at a Kansas city pub in an apparent hate crime held a vigil in his memory as they slowly came to terms with the chilling incident.

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"Love each other" was the overarching theme as mourners filled the First Baptist Church of Olathe, Kansas. Visitors were greeted with solemn and spirit-filled musical numbers and prayers were offered by the families of 32-year-old Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, as well as his friend an Indian man who survived and an American who was injured after a navy veteran man yelling "get out of my country" and "terrorist" opened fire on them in an apparent racially-motivated hate crime.

Kuchibhotla, working at GPS-maker Garmin headquarters in Olathe, died of bullet injuries in a hospital. Kuchibhotla's Indian colleague Alok Madasani was injured when the 51-year-old shooter opened fire at them. Srinivas and Alok hailed from Hyderabad and Warangal respectively.

There has been an outpouring of support for the victims of the Austin's Bar & Grill shooting and fundraising too. Volunteers handed out candles as visitors stoically made their way into the church's sanctuary.

A group of employees gathered in front of the bar after the vigil to offer moment of silence. None were ready to speak about the incident. Adam Purinton, 51, of Olathe was charged on Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of Kuchibhotla. He was also charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shootings of Madasani and Grillot.

Three separate 'gofundme' campaigns were set up for the victims of the shooting. The first fund for Kuchibhotla, has raised approximately $402,000 from 11,000 donors in just one day. A joint fund for Kuchibhotla and his colleague, Alok Madasani, who was wounded in the attack has raised $60,000.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on the US government to "consider filing hate crime charges in order to send a strong message that violence targeting religious or ethnic minorities will not be tolerated," the Times reported. Purinton is scheduled to appear in court Monday and the bar is slated to reopen on Sunday.