Garmin engineer shot and killed in “senseless tragedy”

A Garmin engineer, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was shot and killed at a bar in Olathe, Kan. last week.

According to the Kansas City Star, 51-year-old Adam Purinton, who has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, remarked, according to witnesses, “get out of my country” at two Indian men before opening fire at Austin’s Bar & Grill. Alok Madasani, 32, Kuchibhotla’s colleague, and Ian Grillot were injured in the shooting. The incident took place around 7:15 p.m. local time on Feb. 22.

According to the report in the Star, Grillot jumped at the shooter after he shot at the two men. The 24-year-old was recovering in hospital as of Sunday; Madasani, who works in Garmin’s engineering department, was released on Feb. 23 and spoke at a vigil in the following days.

“We’re devastated by the senseless tragedy that took the life of one of our associates and friends, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, and injured another, Alok Madasani,” Garmin wrote on social media. “Our thoughts are also with Ian Grillot, deemed the “Good Samaritan” for his heroic efforts that fatal evening. Srinivas was a valued member of our engineering team and will be greatly missed. We are working closely with Srinivas’s and Alok’s families and appreciate the outpouring of support for them. As we grieve this tragedy as a community, our thoughts and prayers are with all involved.”

We’re devastated by the senseless tragedy that took the life of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injured Alok Madasani. https://t.co/CjNvfRK2M4 pic.twitter.com/rAjaxmUXBa

— Garmin (@Garmin) February 24, 2017

Purinton is believed to have fled the scene and was detained five hours later at a bar in Missouri. According to the Associated Press, Purinton told an Applebee’s bartender that he shot “two Iranian men,” information the bartender relayed to 911 dispatchers.

BBC News is reporting that authorities are investigating if the attack was racially motivated.

Madasani speaks at vigil

A GoFundMe in support of Kuchibhotla’s family has raised more than US$680,000. India’s Minister of External Affairs tweeted out that the “Indian Government is with (widowed Sunayana Dumala) in this hour of grief. We assure her of all our support.”

Our mission staff hv met with Sunayna Kuchibhotla. Indian Government is with her in this hour of grief. We assure her of all our support. /2

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 24, 2017

Garmin is well-known for making some of the world’s best GPS devices, used by runners of all levels across the globe. Garmin International, Inc is based in Olathe.