Are you here illegally, shooter asked victims

“THE JAMESON guys,” as some on the staff at Austins Bar and Grill knew the pair, were on the patio Wednesday evening. It was hardly unusual: Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani, two Indians, often enjoyed an after-work whiskey at the bar they had adopted as a hangout.

Adam W Purinton was also there, tossing ethnic slurs at the two men and suggesting they did not belong in the US, other customers said. Patrons complained, and Purinton was thrown out.

But a short time later, he came back in a rage and fired on the two men, the authorities said. Kuchibhotla was killed, and Madasani was wounded.

Purinton, 51, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder. “People are devastated,” said Somil Chandwani, a friend of the twovictimswholivesinoverland Park, Kansas. “I wouldn’t say they are angry. They have a sense of insecurity at the moment.”

“He snapped, and this is not his typical self,” the suspect’s mother,marshapurinton,saidbefore declining further comment.

In a brief interview Friday, Madasani described the remarks made Wednesday by Purinton at the restaurant. “He asked us what visa are we currently on and whether we are staying here illegally,” Madasani said.

“We didn’t react,” he said. “Peopledostupidthings...thisguy took it to the next level.” NYT