A 27-year-old student from Telangana, Gampa Praveen Kumar, was shot dead by unidentified robbers while working part-time at a store in Milwaukee, USA. The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday.
Praveen was pursuing a Master of Science (MS) degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A resident of Keshampet in Ranga Reddy district, Telangana, he had moved to the United States in August 2023 to further his studies. He was just four months away from completing his course and securing a full-time job, according to his father, Raghavulu.
Recounting the distressing series of events, Raghavulu revealed that he had missed a WhatsApp call from his son at 2:50 am. “We tried calling him in the morning, but he did not answer. Later, someone else answered his phone and asked about his date of birth. We initially suspected a fraud call. However, his friends soon informed us that they had also received similar calls, requesting them to come to the scene. The police later confirmed that Praveen was shot by assailants,” he said.
Confusion surrounded the details of the incident, as authorities initially provided different accounts—mentioning a private gun, a store gun, and even suggesting that the shooting happened near a beach. Eventually, an official First Information Report (FIR) clarified that the fatal attack took place at the store where Praveen was employed.
The Indian Embassy in Chicago expressed its condolences over the tragic incident. In a statement, it said, “We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa, a postgraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Consulate is in contact with Praveen’s family and the University, providing all possible support. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with his family and friends.”