US: Indian man, daughter killed in Virginia store shooting
A 56-year-old Indian man and her 24-year-old daughter were shot dead at a departmental store in US's Virginia, where they both used to work.
The shooting took place on Thursday, shortly after the store in Accomack County opened.
The accused, identified as George Frazier Devon Wharton, has been arrested for the double murder.
According to reports, the accused reached the store early Thursday morning to buy liquor and asked why the store was shut at night.
He then opened fire at both the father and daughter.
While Pradeep Patel died on the spot, his daughter Urmi succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Pradeep Patel, his wife Hansaben, and their daughter Urmi hail from Gujarat's Mehsana district, and moved to the US six years ago, media reports said.
They had been working at the convenience store owned by a relative, Paresh Patel.
Speaking to WAVY TV in Virginia, Paresh Patel said: "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," he said.
Pradeep Patel and Hansaben have two more daughters- one lives in Canada, the other in Ahmedabad.
Accused Wharton has been charged with first-degree murder along with other sections, including felony and arms laws.
The tragic incident shocked the Patels' relatives back in Mehsana.
Pradip Patel's uncle Chandu Patel said he went to the US about 6-7 years back. "We knew from local media reports and a viral video that they were shot dead. We spoke to his daughter and she told us everything," he said.
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