HYDERABAD: The sudden death of 25-year-old Sharath Koppu in Kansas City in a restaurant shootout has pushed his family and friends back home in deep shock and grief.
A day after the brutal killing of their son by an unidentified man in Kansas City, Missouri, family members were seen wailing, traumatised in pain.
"He was the light of all the family gatherings, always smiling and encouraging all his cousins to study and work hard. I have two daughters and he always told me to ensure that they study further. He would time and again tell me what courses they should take up as the field of technology is ever-changing," recalled Sada Shivudu, Sharath Koppu's uncle.
On Sunday morning, "The only thing we are now eagerly waiting for is to get a final glimpse of Sharath," shared Shivudu, tears welling up in his eyes.
Oblivious to television cameras and press reporters at their Ameerpet home, Sharath's parents broke down, unable to believe the tragedy that struck their family. This incident gives us a recap of another, which occurred a few km away in February 2017, where another city-based techie, Srinivas Kuchibotla was shot at a bar.
Only in May this year, the 52-year-old US Navy veteran Adam Purinton, who shot at Kuchibotla and his friend, plead guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment. They repeatedly said, "We want to see Sharath as soon as possible," amidst wails and cries which filled the home. The mother, Malathi, Rammohan said, had not even had a drop of water since the time she heard the news.
Sharath's father, Ram Mohan, while breaking down, managed to say, "What can I do now? This is just bad luck!" The 26-year-old, moved to Kansas city around six months ago to pursue his Masters, prior to which he was employed in a software firm in Hyderabad.
According to local media reports from Kansas City, while others tried to take cover at Js Fish and Chicken Market, where Sharath is learnt to be working part-time, Sharath ran for cover and was shot dead.
The yet-to-be-identified shooter, seen wearing a cream t-shirt with black stripes in the video footage, shot him in the back. Sharath died while undergoing treatment. Sharath's uncle further shared that he had a decent job, with a good pay package at Pega solutions, which he secured as he graduated from Vasavi Engineering College.
"He graduated in CSC and since a lot of his friends were pursuing MS in the US, he too wanted to go. We are suspecting this to be a racist crime," said Shivudu. Right now there are certain formalities which need to be completed at the hospital. "His cousin and his friends are all there. Even the local Telugu people are helping us. We are only waiting for his body to arrive home," added the uncle.
Shivudu and Sharath's father, both said that the DGP, M Mahendar Reddy raised to the occasion and informed the local passport officials who are trying to speed up the process of bringing Sharath home. The consultancy in Chicago is also in touch with them, informed the uncle.