An Indian-origin motel manager was shot dead at point-blank range in Pittsburgh on Friday after stepping outside to check on a disturbance, police said.
The victim, identified as 51-year-old Rakesh Ehagaban, reportedly tried to intervene in an alleged dispute outside his motel and asked the gunman, “Are you alright, bud?” before being shot and killed instantly.
The Allegheny County Police Department said in a Facebook post that emergency services were notified at 1:04 p.m. of a shooting on the 4200 block of Steubenville Pike in Robinson Township. Ehagaban was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the attacker as 38-year-old Stanley West, who was charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and recklessly endangering another person.
West initially fled the scene in a U-Haul van but was later located by Pittsburgh and Allegheny County police.
According to authorities, when approached at 2:29 p.m., West fired at officers, striking a Pittsburgh detective in the leg. The detective was hospitalized in stable condition.
Police returned fire, injuring West, who was taken to hospital in critical condition.
The Pennsylvania State Police is leading an independent investigation into the incident.
The attack comes weeks after a 50-year-old Indian man, Chandramouli Nagamallaiah, was beheaded at a Dallas motel in front of his wife and son.
