Gujarati motel owner of Indian descent shot dead in Alabama after dispute over room rent
Officials said the shooting was the result of an altercation that occurred when the suspect came to the property to rent a room.
An elderly motel owner of Indian descent was shot dead in the US state of Alabama after a confrontation over room rent. According to Sheffield Police Chief Ricky Terry, accused William Jeremy Moore, 34, was arrested for the murder of 76-year-old Pravin Raojibhai Patel, the owner of the Hillcrest Motel. Officials said the shooting resulted from an altercation that occurred when Moore came to the property to rent a room. Moore was arrested shortly after the incident when he tried to break into an abandoned house on 13th Avenue, Sheffield police said.
During a search of Mr Moore, the murder weapon was found in his possession. The police chief added that Moore is currently being held at the Sheffield City Jail until a warrant is issued, at which time he will be transported to the Colbert County Jail.
Jemeriz Owens, who works as a barber across the street from Patel's motel, told news station WAAY 31 that he heard three gunshots go off in succession. “He (Patel) was outside. He was just trying to get someone to leave, but they wouldn't leave and shot him,” Owens said.
According to foreign media, Patel's body was transported to the Alabama Forensics Lab for an autopsy and a funeral service for him was held on February 12 at the Morrison Funeral Home in Tuscumbia.
Asian American Hotel Owners Association responds
The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) called the incident a “senseless act of violence” and said Thursday that the country's hotel owners are “deeply saddened, shocked and outraged.” “Senseless acts of violence have no place in our communities, and our hearts break for Pravin's family, including his wife, children and grandchildren,” said AAHOA President Bharat Patel.
“No family should have to go through what Pravin's family is going through, and we extend our condolences to all who knew and loved him.”
Hoping that authorities will help the Patel family find justice, Sanjay M. Patel, regional director of AAHOA Alabama, said the motel owner spent more than four decades in the city of Sheffield, where he owned and operated the same business. “He was a very family-oriented person, cheerful and an enthusiastic businessman. Everyone in town knew him as a familiar face in the community, having lived there for over forty years, and the family was known in the community for being genuine and caring,” Sanjay Patel said.
Indian-American couple from Kerala, their twins found dead
An Indian-American couple from Kerala, Anand Sujith Henry and Alice Priyanka, along with their four-year-old twins, were tragically found dead in their $2.1 million mansion in San Mateo, California. The couple was discovered with gunshot wounds in a bathroom, while their children were found unharmed in the bedroom. Anand, a former software engineering manager at Meta and Google, and Alice, a senior analyst, were respected professionals in their fields. The community is in shock and mourning this devastating loss. The circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are under investigation as authorities seek to bring justice for the victims and their grieving loved ones.