Indian Father and Daughter Killed in Store Shooting in Virginia

In a shocking incident in Virginia, an Indian man and his daughter were shot dead in a store where they worked. The suspect, George Frazier Devon Wharton, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. This event has caused significant distress within the Indian community in the US.

A tragic incident occurred at a departmental store in Accomack County, Virginia, where a 24-year-old Indian woman and her 56-year-old father were fatally shot. The shooting transpired shortly after the store opened on Thursday morning. George Frazier Devon Wharton, aged 44, has been arrested and charged with the double murder.

Reports indicate that Wharton arrived at the store early in the morning, inquiring about its hours before he opened fire on the father-daughter duo. Pradeep Patel was pronounced dead at the scene, while his daughter Urmi was rushed to the hospital where she later succumbed to her wounds. The Patels, originally from Gujarat’s Mehsana district, had moved to the United States six years earlier and were employed at a store owned by a relative.

Paresh Patel, the store’s owner and a relative of the victims, expressed his shock, stating, “I don’t know what to do” after the tragic event. The family, which includes Pradeep’s wife Hansaben and two other daughters, has faced immense grief following the incident. One daughter resides in Canada, while the other lives in Ahmedabad.

The accused, Wharton, faces severe charges including first-degree murder and violations of arms and felony laws. This violent act has deeply affected the Indian community in the United States, reminiscent of a similar case where another Indian-origin man, Mainank Patel, was shot during a robbery earlier this year.

The recent double murder of an Indian father and daughter in Virginia has raised concerns within the Indian community in the US. The shooter, George Frazier Devon Wharton, is now in custody, facing multiple charges including first-degree murder. The family, who had emigrated from Gujarat, is now grieving a profound loss, highlighting the ongoing issue of violence faced by convenience store workers.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com