An Indian national was shot dead in the US state of Missouri in an alleged hate crime, and police have arrested a local citizen in connection with the shooting.
As per records, the deceased, identified as 32-year-old Sharif Rahman Khan, was a software engineer from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Khan was found with gunshot wounds at a University City apartment in St Louis, Missouri, last Wednesday. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died while receiving medication.
Subsequent criminal investigations resulted in the conviction of a 23-year-old local man, Cole J Miller, in connection with the crime.
Miller, according to police, had a “romantic obsession” with a female acquaintance of the now-deceased Indian engineer. According to the police Miller used to stalk the girl and was obsessed with her for a long time.
Miller paid a visit to Khan’s female friend’s University City apartment last Wednesday. Khan was also in attendance. Khan and Miller got into a heated debate. During the argument, Khan reportedly punched Miller, during which the latter shot the former with a.380 Ruger LCP pistol, according to The sources quoting a witness.
After being arrested, the accused told investigators that he thought the girl with whom he had a “romantic obsession” was being coerced. “Miller said he fought with a man, who snatched his cellphone and shot him three times during a struggle. Miller identified the cellphone seized from the scene as his,” the police said, according to the sources.
Meanwhile, several media outlets expressed fear that the deadly attack on the Indian engineer was a “hate crime.” However, Khan’s family members, who live in Bhopal’s Subhash Nagar area, have voiced concerns over what has been published in the media. Khan’s last rites will be held in the United States due to the pandemic situation, according to his family members.
