An Indian-origin man was killed by a homeless man inside a store in the US city of Lithonia, Georgia, on January 16, 2024.
He was identified as 25-year-old Vivek Saini.
Witnesses told WSB-TV Saini was attacked with a hammer by a homeless man at the Chevron Food Mart at Snapfinger and Cleveland Road in Lithonia.
Workers at Food Mart said they allowed the homeless man to come in and out of their store.
Police identified him as 53-year-old Julian Faulkner.
“He asked us for chips, and coke. We gave him everything including the water,” a worker of the store told WSB-TV.
“He asked if I could get a blanket I said we don’t have blankets so I gave him a jacket. He was walking in and out asking him for cigarettes water and everything,” said the employee. “He was sitting here all the time and we never asked him to get out because we know that it’s cold.”
Saini asked Faulkner to leave.
“He asked him to leave or else he was going to call the cops, he had been there for two days,” said the employee.
Police said Faulkner attacked him with a hammer.
The attacker is currently in jail.
Why did Vivek go to the US?
Vivek Saini hails from Haryana state of India.
He completed his BTech in Computer Science from Chandigarh University.
The Indian-origin student recently completed his Masters in Business Administration from Alabama University.
Vivek’s cousin Simran told India Today his body reached India and his last rites are also over.
“He was a brilliant student who just wanted a decent job to support himself and his family. He used to work in a store, and for the last many days, the person identified as Vivek’s killer used to come to the store and beg for cigarettes,” Simran said.
Vivek used to give him cigarettes, but on that day, he refused and said he would call the police if the man came to annoy them again. Later, he came with a hammer and cold-bloodedly killed my brother,” said Simran.