A masked man shot dead an Indian national at a grocery store in Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday, local police said. Maninder Singh Sahi, who had turned 31 last month, was married and a father of two.
Originally from Karnal, Mr Sahi had arrived in the US less than six months ago and had sought political asylum.
He was working at a 7-Eleven grocery store in the Whittier City in Los Angeles County of California.
The only earning member of his family, Mr Sahi used to send money to his wife and two children back home, his relatives in the US said.
***HOMICIDE UPDATE*** Homicide occurred at the 7-11 store 8438 Santa Fe Springs Road. Suspect entered the store with a semi-automatic handgun killing the clerk. Suspect is described as a male black adult, 5-06/5-07. Anyone with information contact Whittier PD 562-567-9281. pic.twitter.com/MSNhvcHrJB
— Whittier Police Dept (@whittierpd) February 23, 2020
According to the Whittier Police Department, the incident occurred at 5:43 am on Saturday.
Preliminarily it appears the suspect entered the store with a semi-automatic handgun with the intent to commit a robbery.
"For unknown reasons the suspect fired the handgun killing the clerk," the police said releasing a picture of the suspect.
"The suspect fled the location and is outstanding at this time. There were two customers inside the store, both were uninjured. The suspect is described as a male black adult approximately 506-507. Suspect had his face partially covered and was wearing a dark hoody with a gray hoody underneath," police said.
The victim's brother in the US has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money so that the body of Maninder Singh Sahi could be taken back to India.
"He left behind, his parents, his wife and 2 small children, ages 5 and 9. I am seeking assistance to help send his body back to India so his wife and kids can view him one last time," his brother wrote in GoFundMe page on Sunday.