Andhra man shot dead in convenience store robbery in Dallas

Dasari Gopikrishna, 32, who hailed from Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh, came to the US only eight months ago

In a tragic incident, a 32-year-old Indian man was shot dead during a robbery at a gas station convenience store in Pleasant Grove, Dallas, Texas on June 21.

Dasari Gopikrishna, who hailed from Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh, came to the US only eight months ago. He sustained critical injuries during the robbery, according to local media reports. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning while undergoing treatment.

The Indian consulate in Houston, along with support from Indian associations, is providing all possible assistance to facilitate the repatriation of Gopikrishna’s body to India following local formalities, including autopsy and death certificates.

Expressing his condolences, Indian Consul General D C Manjunath posted on X, “We are deeply saddened to learn about the tragic demise of Indian national Gopi Krishna Dasari in a robbery shooting incident at Pleasant Grove, Dallas, TX, and are in touch with local family members.”

Gopikrishna is survived by his wife and a son. His family, residing in Yajali, Karlapalem mandal, Bapatla district, was devastated after hearing the news of his demise, according to Indian media reports.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, showing a man donning a mask, shorts, and a cap firing at Gopikrishna before robbing money and some items from the store. The incident has sent shockwaves among the Indian community in Dallas and surrounding areas.

READ: Indian American killed in gas station armed robbery (January 23, 2023)

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on June.23 expressed deep sorrow over the death of Gopikrishna.

“Deeply saddened to learn that a young Dasari Gopikrishna from Bapatla has succumbed to injuries sustained in a shooting incident in USA,” he posted on X. “I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and assure them that the GoAP will extend every possible support to help bring him home. We firmly stand by the family and pray for them to find strength through this difficult time.”

Former Andhra chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has also expressed shock over Gopikrishna’s death. He has appealed to the Naidu government and the Ministry of External Affairs to support the deceased’s kin.