A 56-year-old Gujarati man, Suresh Patel, was fatally shot during an armed robbery at a liquor store in Jackson, Tennessee, on August 20. Patel, a native of Akhaj village in Mehsana district, had reportedly taken over the store just days before the incident.

Police said the gunman entered the store, threatened staff at gunpoint and demanded cash. After receiving the money, he fired several shots, killing Patel, before fleeing in a white sedan. Patel’s 19-year-old daughter, who was beside him, escaped unharmed, while a 70-year-old employee suffered a fractured wrist after falling during the incident.

Authorities described the suspect as a Black male wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and dark boots, with his face covered by a paintball-style mask. Police have appealed to the public for information that could help identify and locate the suspect.

The killing has renewed concerns over the safety of Gujarati and other Indian-origin shopkeepers operating convenience stores and other businesses in the US. The Jackson investigation remains ongoing, with authorities particularly concerned that Patel was shot even after the robber had received the cash he demanded.