A 56-year-old Indian man living in the for over three decades was allegedly shot dead during an attempted robbery in Jackson, Tennessee, on Thursday night (local time).
Here’s what we know
The man, identified as Suresh Patel, was a Gujarati who lived in the US and ran a store, according to a statement from the City of Jackson Police Department shared on Facebook.
According to reports, the alleged armed robbery occurred at Ridgecrest Cellars, located at 2880 Ridgecrest Road. After an armed robber entered Patel’s store, he demanded cash, police said, adding that before fleeing with the money in a white sedan, the suspect fired multiple shots inside the premises, hitting Patel, who was pronounced dead at the scene. However, his 19-year-old daughter escaped unharmed.
The incident, however, left another man injured. A 70-year-old employee working at Patel’s store was inside when the incident occurred. He reportedly fell during the shooting and suffered a wrist fracture.
The release stated, “At approximately 9 pm, officers responded to a call regarding a robbery and shooting in the business. According to witnesses, an unidentified suspect entered the establishment, brandished a weapon, and demanded cash from the employees. After taking the money from the employee, the suspect fired multiple shots, striking one of the store employees. The victim was found deceased and identified as Suresh Patel, a 56-year-old man.”
The statement from the City of Jackson Police Department described the suspect as a “…male wearing a gray hoodie, jeans, and black work-style boots. His face was covered with a paintball-style mask, and he was seen fleeing the business in a white sedan.”
Patel’s India connection
According to a report in The Indian Express, Patel reportedly hailed from Akhaj village in taluka and moved to the US around 30 years ago. Police Inspector AM Gehlot of Lagnaj police station, which has jurisdiction over Akhaj, said he had not yet received any information about Patel’s death. However, he noted that several families in the Patel-dominated village have relatives living abroad.
Police launch manhunt
Following the incident, the Jackson Police Department has launched a manhunt for the shooter and appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could help identify the suspect.
Shooting incidents targeting Indians rise in the US
According to a Times of India report, Patel’s killing is the latest in a series of violent attacks on Gujarat-store owners and employees in the United States. In May 2025, a 30-year-old man named Paresh, alias Prince Patel, was reportedly shot dead at a gas station in during a robbery attempt, with robbers opening fire despite being handed the cash.
Earlier this year, a Gujarati woman, Meghna Patel, was inside her store in Norfolk, Virginia. In a separate incident in September 2025, Kiran Patel, originally from Charotar, was killed in a parking lot after confronting an armed robber who had entered her store.
As the investigation continues, Patel’s killing adds to growing concerns over violent attacks targeting Indian-origin business owners in the US.
