Days after the killing of an Indian engineer in an apparent hate crime, an Indian-origin businessman who was well-liked in his neighbourhood was shot dead outside his home in Lancaster, South Carolina, on Thursday night.
Harnish Patel, 43, had closed his shop at 11.24 p.m. and barely 10 minutes later was shot dead outside his house, according to media reports.
Patel's death comes two days after President Donald Trump had said the nation condemned as "hate and evil" the killing of Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead in a pub the previous Wednesday in Olathe, Kansas, by a white man who screamed, "Get out of my country".
Local officials in Lancaster said they do not believe that Patel's killing was a bias crime and that investigations are continuing, according to The Herald.
"I don't have any reason to believe that this was racially motivated," County Sheriff Barry Faile said on Friday.
Patel's store was near the sheriff's office and deputies often frequented the store.
Faile said on TV that Patel was a "great family man" and a friend.
A growing memorial outside a Lancaster store after the owner was shot and killed. What deputies found at the crime scene, at 5. pic.twitter.com/S2zHR18ybi
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) March 3, 2017
The station said that Patel is survived by his wife and child in elementary school, who were at home when he was killed.
People had created an impromptu shrine outside Patel's Speedee Mart store by leaving balloons and flowers in his memory, the station said.
"Investigators believe he drove from the store directly home, where he was confronted by his killer when he got out of the vehicle," a police statement said.
The store is between three and four miles from the house.
In the February 22 Kansas incident in which Kuchibhotla was killed, another Indian, Alok Madasani, who was with him at a bar, and an American, Ian Grillot, who tried to stop the shooting, were shot and injured.
A white Navy veteran Adam Purinton, 51, was arrested and charged with murder. He had reportedly said that he had shot two Iranians after shooting the Indians.
Lancaster Sheriff Barry Faile says Harnish Patel was shot twice. Two shell casings found outside his home. K-9 did not pick up a scent. pic.twitter.com/P0js4PgWZh
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) March 3, 2017
The hate crime has been condemned by leaders in both the US and India.
In his State of the Union address to the joint session of the Congress Trump said, "Last week's shooting in Kansas City, remind us that while we may be a Nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms."
Sign on door at Harnish Patel's Lancaster store says it's closed due to family emergency. Owner was shot and killed last night. pic.twitter.com/gFpjQpjtWt
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) March 3, 2017
WSOCTV said that in Lancaster there was a lot of anger over the killing of Patel, who was considered an important member of the community and a kind person who treated his customers as friends and helped law enforcement.
A sign on the shop door read, "Store closed for few days because of family emergency. Sorry for the inconvenience."
A tearful customer, Nicole Jones, told the station that when someone didn't have money, Patel gave them food. "I would have no idea who would do this to him as good as he is to everybody," she said.
A neighbor tells me he heard 3 gunshots last night outside Harnish Patel's home on Craig Manor Rd. Patel was killed in his yard. pic.twitter.com/LPYincLudC
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) March 3, 2017
A store employee, Keira Baskin, said that he only wanted the best for his employees and his family.
On Thursday night a woman called the police and said that she heard screaming and gunshots and when sheriff's deputies arrived there they found Patel dead from apparent gunshot wounds a few feet from his house, WBTV reported.
Police found two shell casings at the crime scene. A police dog could could not pick up any scent to follow from there, WSOCTV reported.
There are no arrests in the shooting death of Harnish Patel last night. He was shot after arriving home after work.
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) March 3, 2017
INDIAN MISSION OFFERS AID TO FAMILY OF INDIAN-ORIGIN MAN KILLED IN US
The Indian consulate in US' Atlanta has deputed an official to meet the family of Harnish Patel, an Indian-origin businessman who was shot dead in South Carolina, it was learnt on Saturday.
"CGI Atlanta is in touch with the family. It is deputing a consular official to meet the family and offer condolences and any required assistance," a source here said.
The mission, it is learnt, is also in touch with the local community organisation of expatriate Indians, including those from Gujarat.
Patel, 43, had closed his shop at 11.24 p.m. on Thursday and barely 10 minutes later was shot dead outside his home in Lancaster, South Carolina.
Patel's death comes two days after President Donald Trump had said the nation condemned as "hate and evil" the killing of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead in a pub the previous Wednesday in Olathe, Kansas, by a white man who screamed, "Get out of my country".
According to the source here, the County Sheriff has pointed out that Patel's killing may not be a hate crime.
"Local authorities are investigating. We will remain in touch with them," the source said.
