Accused of killing Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injuring two others at a suburban Kansas City bar, Adam Purinton, of Kansas, has been indicted on federal hate crime and firearms charges.
The Friday’s indictment by a federal grand jury against Purinton comes after a February 22 shooting at a city bar.
The Department of Justice has accused Purinton of shooting and killing Kuchibhotla, and attempting to kill Alok Madasani, also an Indian, because of their perceived race, colour, religion and national origin.
Witnesses said Purinton yelled at the two Indian men to “get out of my country” before shooting them.
A 24-year-old American man was also injured when he tried to intervene.
The announcement in this regard was made by the Acting Assistant Attorney General Thomas E Wheeler, II, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and United States Attorney Thomas E Beall of the District of Kansas.
According to a media release, Puritan may face death penalty or life imprisonment. The Justice Department will later determine whether it will seek the death penalty
A US Navy veteran, Purinton, is currently being held in the Johnson County jail on a $2 million cash bond on murder and attempt to murder.
