Gujarati store owner shot dead in US; 19-year-old daughter standing next to him escapes unharmed | Ahmedabad News

Police said the suspect took the money before firing multiple shots. (Image: Jackson Police Department)

AHMEDABAD: A 56-year-old Gujarati man was shot dead during an armed robbery at a liquor store in Jackson, Tennessee, on Thursday night, with his 19-year-old daughter reportedly standing beside him when the gunman opened fire.The victim, identified by Jackson Police Department as Suresh Patel, was killed at Ridgecrest Cellars on Ridgecrest Road after an armed robber entered the store and demanded cash. Police said the suspect took the money before firing multiple shots inside the premises, hitting Patel. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The incident occurred at around 9pm on Aug 20. According to police, the unidentified suspect entered the business, brandished a firearm and demanded money from employees. After receiving the cash, he opened fire before fleeing in a white sedan. Investigators said the suspect was a Black male wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and black work-style boots. His face was covered with a paintball-style mask.Patel is understood to be a native of Akhaj village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district. His family is believed to have recently taken over the store. Local reports said Patel had taken over the business only days earlier.The shooting also left another employee injured. A 70-year-old employee, who was inside the store, fell during the shooting and suffered a fractured wrist. Patel’s daughter, who was standing next to him at the time, was unharmed.Police launched a manhunt for the shooter and appealed to the public for information that could help identify him. The suspect’s getaway vehicle is believed to be a white sedan.The killing is the latest in a series of violent attacks on Gujarat-origin store owners and employees in the US. In May 2025, 30-year-old Paresh alias Prince Patel was shot dead at a gas station in Tennessee during a robbery. Reports said the robber fired multiple rounds even after being handed cash.Two months ago, Gujarati woman Meghna Patel was shot dead inside her store in Norfolk, Virginia. In Sept 2025, Kiran Patel, originally from Charotar, was shot in a parking lot after confronting an armed robber who had entered her store.The latest killing highlighted the risks faced by Indian-origin convenience-store and business owners in the US, where such establishments often operate late into the night and are vulnerable to armed robberies.Sources said the shooting reportedly occurred even after the robber had obtained the cash he demanded. The investigation into his killing is continuing.