I am sad to report that the ethnic and racial hysteria being stirred up by the Trump administration has taken a deadly turn in suburban Kansas City. Last night, while most of the packed house at Austin’s Bar & Grill in Olathe (a suburb on the Kansas side of the Missouri/Kansas border) was watching the KU/TCU game, a drunk, 51-year old, white man, shot three men of “middle-eastern” or “Indian” ethnicity.
Two of the men, Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani, were employees of local employer Garmin. They worked on the Aviation Systems Engineering team. Unfortunately, according to a Garmin statement, Mr. Kuchibhotla has died:
In an email to employees, Garmin officials identified the fatal victim as employee Srinivas Kuchibhotla. Alok Madasani was injured, the email said.
Srinivas had a master’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the Jawaharial Nehru Technological University. He worked on helicopter systems.
In a public statement, Garmin said, “We’re saddened that two Garmin associates were involved in last night’s incident, and we express our condolences to the family and friends of our co-workers involved. Garmin will have grievance counselors on-site and available for its associates today and tomorrow.”
The third man was Ian Grillot, who, according to witnesses, is a real hero. He stood up to the shooter and tried to stop him. He was shot in the hand and shoulder. A Go Fund Me site has been set up for him: www.gofundme.com/...
Witnesses said the suspect was in Austin's drinking and making racial slurs.
At least one witness reportedly heard the suspect yell “get out of my country” shortly before the shooting.
The alleged shooter, Adam Purinton, fled, chaos ensued, and the area was completely shut down. He was eventually found a few hours away at a bar in an Applebee’s in Clinton, Missouri. Still drinking, he told the bartender he had just killed two “middle-eastern” men.
The man reportedly told the bartender that he needed a place to hide out.
The bartender called the police and the suspect was taken away without further incident.
www.kansascity.com/...
This is another hate crime perpetrated in "safe, friendly" Johnson County, Kansas, once described by author Richard Rhodes as "Cupcakeland." In 2014 another terrorist attack was committed in Johnson County against the Overland Park Jewish Community Center. Three people died in that attack.
www.kansascity.com/…
This is the new normal. These are our neighbors who are doing the shooting. These are our neighbors who are dying. Those still supporting Trump and his crew, cannot look anyone in the eye and tell them that his hateful rhetoric is not giving license to those who commit these acts.
Thursday, Feb 23, 2017 · 3:11:36 PM CST · tjnor01
I see this diary is on the Rec list. I wish to God there had been no need to publicize this; that it had never happened. I am thinking of Srinivas’ family. I wish Alok and Ian a speedy recovery. I have given to these Go Fund Me sites:
www.gofundme.com/...
www.gofundme.com/...
www.gofundme.com/…
Sriniva’s family needs the money to send his body back to India. My heart is breaking...