AHMEDABAD: The tragic deaths of a father and daughter in a Virginia shooting have sent shockwaves through the Gujarati community in the US and Kanoda village in Mehsana. Pradeep Patel, 56, was shot dead on the spot, while his 24-year-old daughter, Urmi, succumbed to her injuries two days later. Police have arrested a man in connection with the incident, though the motive remains unclear.
Chandu Patel, a leader of the Kadva Patidar community in Kanoda and Pradeep's uncle, said the family first learned of the horrific attack through media reports. "They had just opened their store at around 5am on March 20 when a man entered and began shooting. Both Pradeep and Urmi were hit. The accused, identified as George Frazier Devon Wharton, has been arrested," he said.
Relatives in Kanoda said the Patels had moved to the US in 2019 on visitor visas and eventually settled there, managing convenience stores run by the Gujarati Patel community. They had taken over their current store just four months ago after working at another store about 75km away. "The family includes Pradeep's wife, two daughters, and a son. While both daughters are married into families from Gujarat, his son works in Canada. Urmi got married three years ago," said Pradeep's brother, Ashok Patel. "It is likely that their last rites will be performed in the US."
Family members believe the assailant was lurking near the store and opened fire as soon as the father-daughter duo arrived. Pradeep's cousin owns a store nearby.
This incident adds to a growing number of attacks on Gujaratis in the US. Just recently, Mainank Patel from Vadodara was shot dead in North Carolina, prompting the community to launch a crowdfunding campaign to support his pregnant wife and daughter.