A 61-year-old Indian man from Telangana was shot dead by a 16-year-old boy in the United States in a carjacking incident, according to information received by his relatives on Saturday. The victim, Sunil Edla was fatally shot by the minor outside his residence in Ventnor City in New Jersey around 8 pm (Indian time) on November 15.
Sunil, a native of Medak district of Telangana, was working as a night auditor in the hospitality industry in Atlantic City. According to local media reports, Sunil was leaving his home for his overnight shift when the teen shot him and escaped with his car. The victim died on the spot.
The police on Friday tracked the boy and arrested him. He has been charged with murder, robbery, carjacking and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Sunil, who had migrated to the US in 1987, was to travel to India later this month to visit his family.
According to his relatives, he had made all arrangements for the two-month trip to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with the family.
Sunil was active in the Christian community and was also known for playing the piano at churches in Atlantic City.
Just a few months ago, in July, a student, Sharat Koppu, from Telangana, was shot dead in Kansas City, Missouri, during a robbery attempt in a restaurant. Sharat was a resident of Warangal. He had moved to the US to pursue his studies. A few days after the killing, the accused was shot down by the police during an encounter in a motel in Kansas City. Authorities said that the attack was not racially motivated.