An Indian-origin woman working at a gas station died after being shot in the face in an attempted armed robbery in South Carolina, the third such incident against Indians in the US within a month. Mradulaben Patel from Gujarat, 59, was the co-owner of a store at a BP gas station in Powdersville. An unidentified man is believed to have shot Patel in the face on Thursday night. Police has asked for help to identify the assailant.
Patel, who underwent surgery on Friday, later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.Police said surveillance video footage shows a man walking into the store and buying a pack of cigars. Investigators said they believe the man shot Patel during an attempted robbery. They said after the shooting, a customer Michael Wheat found Patel lying on the floor and called 911.
Two Indians — Sanjay Patel (39) and Rajesh Madala (35) — were killed during appartment robbery attempts in two separate incidents at gas stations in the US last month.