NRI from Gujarat killed in shootout at US strip club

Akash Talati is the son of a former Principal of an Arts College in Anand, Ramesh Talati, who resides in Anand.

An NRI from Anand district, Akash Talati, was killed in a late night shooting at an adult night club in Fayetteville in North Carolina in the US on Saturday. Talati, who owned a motel that also housed an adult strip club — Diamondz Gentlemen’s Club — was killed in a shootout after an altercation between the club’s security guards and a patron, who was thrown out.

According to Detective J Littlejohn of Fayetteville Police, the shootout took place around 1.30 am on Saturday, local time at Fayetteville, when Talati was present inside the club.

Littlejohn said, “The incident was a result of a verbal exchange between the security guards hired by Talati and a patron, who was asked to leave the club due to his behaviour. He was upset about being asked to go, there was an argument and he opened fire. Talati was shot from close range and died on the spot, while three other employees were injured.”

Littlejohn said no other Indian was injured, while one of the injured is critical. Probe is on to identify the accused, officials said. Talati is survived by his wife and a seven-year-old son. His last Facebook post, hours before his death, read, “Life is too short for fake connections.”