Indian, 56, killed in US crossfire

New York: A 56-year-old Indian man was killed after getting caught in crossfire outside a motel in the US state of Tennessee. Khandu Patel, who worked as a housekeeper at the motel, was hit by a bullet when around 30 shots went off in shootout nearby.

New York, April 28: A 56year-old Indian man has been killed after getting caught in a crossfire outside a motel in the US state of Tennessee, becoming the fifth from the community to be killed in the country since February.

Khandu Patel, father of two, worked as a housekeeper at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven, a report in Fox13Memphis said.

The incident occurred on Monday when about 30 shots went off.

Investigators say one of those bullets hit Mr Patel. He was standing at the back of the motel when he was shot and later died at the Regional Medical Center Khandu had worked at the inn for about eight months.

His wife and children lived at the motel with him.

“He finished his days’ work and was out walking around the property. Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest,” Jay Patel, the victim’s nephew, was quoted as saying by the report.

“He didn’t even make it to the hospital to be saved.”

He added that the family was ready to shift to another location for a new job.

“He was ready to get out of there,” said Jay Patel. “Just trying to put food on the table so he had to take what he had at the time.” Investigators were on the lookout for the killer.