A 56-year-old Indian-origin shop owner was shot dead during an armed robbery at his newly opened store in Jackson, Tennessee.
The victim has been identified as Suresh Parsottamdas Patel, originally from Mehsana in Gujarat.
The incident took place on August 20 at Ridgecrest Cellars, a store Patel had reportedly opened only a few days earlier.
Police said they received a call around 9 pm about a robbery and shooting at the shop.
According to witnesses, an unidentified man entered the store, showed a weapon and demanded cash from employees.
After taking the money, the suspect allegedly fired several shots, hitting Patel.
His 19-year-old daughter was reportedly standing next to him when the shooting took place.
A 70-year-old employee, who had been working at the store since it opened, also reportedly fell during the incident and suffered a fractured wrist.
Police described the suspect as a man wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and black work-style boots.
His face was reportedly covered with a paintball-style mask, and he was seen fleeing the scene in a white sedan.
Police have released images from the store and are continuing their search for the suspect.
Patel had reportedly been living in the United States for nearly 30 years.
News of his death has caused deep grief in his native village in Mehsana district.
A villager said Patel had spent many years in Chicago before recently starting the new store in Jackson.
The killing has also raised concern among people in his village, with many expressing shock over reports of violent crime in the US.
Police are continuing the investigation, and the suspect remains at large.
