US Indians raise $100K for Kansas hero
24-year-old American, who took a bullet for an Indian, has been honoured as ‘A True American Hero’ by the IndianAmerican community, at the 14th annual gala of India House Houston, which raised $100,000 to help him buy a house in his hometown Kansas.
Ian Grillot was injured when he tried to intervene in the shooting by a Navy veteran targeting Indians at a bar in Olathe, Kansas last month.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was critically injured in the shooting.
“On behalf of the IndianAmerican community in Houston, India House recognised this selfless act beyond the call of duty and has extended the community’s gratitude to Ian Grillot by helping him to buy a house,” said a statement posted on the India House Houston Facebook page.
India House raised the amount as part of an initiative supported by the Consul General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Rayn, it said.
India’s ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna handed over the cheque to Grillot.
“I don’t know if I could have lived with myself if I wouldn’t have stopped or attempted to stop the shooter because that would have been completely devastating,” Grillot said.
“I do now have a very powerful message and if I can help empower people and spread hope and love, then why not? I am honoured to be at India House that serves so many families from so many communities in the Houston area,” he added.
India House is a community center built by Americans of Indian origin in the Greater Houston area.
“It is not every day that one meets a genuine hero -- a person who risks his life for another, and takes a bullet for a complete stranger,” said Jiten Agarwal, a prominent Houstonian and Chair of the annual gala.
“Ian Grillot is a man who reminds us of the promise of America and its greatness,” he added.