Tragic Shooting Claims Lives of Indian Father and Daughter in Virginia

A father and daughter, Pradeep and Urmi Patel, were shot dead in a Virginia store. George Wharton has been arrested and charged. This incident has alarmed the Indian community, linking it to prior acts of violence against Indian nationals in the US.

In a tragic incident in Virginia, a 24-year-old Indian woman, Urmi Patel, and her 56-year-old father, Pradeep Patel, were fatally shot at the convenience store where they worked. The shooting occurred shortly after the store opened on Thursday morning, with the alleged gunman, George Frazier Devon Wharton, being apprehended shortly thereafter. Reports indicate that Wharton, aged 44, entered the store to purchase liquor and then opened fire upon questioning why the store was closed at night. Pradeep Patel died instantly, while his daughter Urmi later succumbed to her wounds in the hospital.

The Patel family originally hails from the Mehsana district of Gujarat and relocated to the United States six years ago. They had been working at the store, which belongs to a relative, Paresh Patel. Expressing his shock, Paresh Patel told WAVY TV, “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.” The Patels have two more daughters; one resides in Canada and the other in Ahmedabad, India.

George Frazier Devon Wharton has been charged with first-degree murder along with other related felony charges. This incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian community in the United States, highlighting ongoing concerns about violence against individuals of Indian origin. This shooting follows another incident several months ago, in which Mainank Patel, a 36-year-old convenience store owner in North Carolina, was killed during a robbery.

The tragic shooting of Urmi and Pradeep Patel at a Virginia store underscores the increasing violence faced by the Indian community in the United States. This incident, resulting in two lives lost, has raised significant concerns within the community, aggravating fears stemming from similar occurrences. As the case against the alleged shooter progresses, it highlights the urgent need for addressing safety and security for all.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com