Days after 32-year-old Indian engineer, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, was killed in a shootout at a pub in Kansas, numerous people gathered Kansas City and conducted a peaceful candle march and prayer vigil to celebrate his life. This march was also attended by the friends of Srinivas while the other Indian who sustained injuries, Alok Madasani, in that attack was also present on his crutches. The priests from various religions conducted the prayer at the Hindu Temple in the city.
People who were gathered carried Kuchibhotla’s pictures, banners while they also chanted,”We want peace”; “We love peace”; “Let us not leave our children”; “Unity is part of community, together we stand, divided we fall”.
Ian Grillot, who was injured that night while saving Srinivas, also attended the march accompanied with Lt Governor Jeff Colyer, US Congressman Kevin Yoder, Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, Olathe Police Chief Steven Menke, and other state officials.
During the march, Alok Madasani, Srinivas’ friend, spoke about him and he said,”Srini was the kindest person you would meet. He was full of joy and love and never uttered a word of hate.”
I hope I am not asking for too much because that is what my friend (#SrinivasKuchibotla) would have wanted: Alok Madasani in #Kansas pic.twitter.com/6U2cyWlAd8
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 27, 2017
32-year-old, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an engineer hailing from India, working at the Garmin headquarters in Olathe, was killed in the shooting, another Indian and his colleague Alok Madasani was critically injured and is battling for life at a local hospital. A man identified as Ian Grillot was also injured in the shooting.
Five hours after the incident, the local police arrested 51-year-old Adam Purinton for the incident. Purinton is a navy veteran and had reportedly told a bartender in Clinton, Missouri, where he was hiding that he killed two Middle Eastern persons, the Kansas City Star said. He has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder and his bond has been set at $2 million.
