Kuchibotla rerun? Hyderabad techie shot in Kansas

HYDERABAD: A city techie was shot dead in Kansas by unidentified gunmen on Friday. Sharath Koppu, 26, who fell to bullets inside a restaurant, was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to injuries. He had gone to the US two months ago and was studying at the University of Missouri, Kansas. The horrific shooting comes just a year after the hate killing of another Telugu techie, Srinivas Kuchibotla, at a Kansas bar.

Koppu’s family in Hyderabad has sought official confirmation on his death. They came to know about the tragedy from other sources, not Kansas police or the ministry of external affairs.

According to Kansas local media report, the incident took place around 7pm at J’s Fish and Chicken Market at 5412 Prospect Ave. The spot of crime is about 26 miles away from where Kuchibotla was shot dead in February 2017. Police are clueless on how the gunman in this Friday’s murder escaped. No one has been arrested. The police urged people to provide clues or tips.

A report in the Kansas City Star quoted Captain Lionel Colón of Kansas police as saying, they have no information on suspects or motive of crime. Earlier, police rushed to the scene and tried to resuscitate Koppu, but to no avail.

The paper quoted two persons, Carl Bradley and Lemmie Dean, who were inside a nearby motel, saying they had heard five gunshots from the Kansas restaurant.

The victim, Sharath Koppu, had graduated in computer science from Vasavi College of Engineering before he went to the US to pursue higher studies.

Sharath did his schooling from Warangal.

Koppu’s friend, Sandeep Vemulakonda, tweeted Union minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj about the shootout. “We are not able to get any response from US. Can you lend a helping hand,” he said.

Dad moves DGP after US shooting

Sharath Koppu’s father K Rammohan, a BSNL employee, approached the Director-General of Police (DGP) for help to get official information from US authorities whether the victim in the restaurant was his son.

Another friend of Sharath called up Rammohan to inform him about Sharath’s murder.

“We want an official confirmation from police. That is why we sought the help of the DGP who directed us to ministry of external affairs officials to coordinate,” Sai Goud, a colleague of Rammohan told STOI late on Saturday evening. He also said, there was no response on Sharath Koppu’s phone when they tried calling him.

The Consulate General of India in Chicago, confirming the victims name said that an Indian stude t became a victim of shooting in Kansas city. They are in touch with his family and police. They will provide all assistance required.

In Feburary 2017, Srinivas Kuchibhotla an Indian engineer, from Hyderabad, was killed in a racially motivated shooting in a Kansas City bar, United States. Originally from Hyderabad, The attacker, Adam Purinton, thought they were Middle Easterners.