KANSAS (TIP): Indian American Techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla’s killer Adam Purinton, the navy veteran, has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges.
Kuchibhotla died in the shooting incident that happened on February 22 last year after Purinton opened fire at the two Indians under the assumption that they were Iranians.
Kuchibhotla was an aviation engineer at the Kansas-based technology company Garmin International and was living in the United States with his wife, Sunayana Dumala.
A third patron, Ian Grillot, a white American, was also wounded as he tried to intervene when Purinton tried fleeing from the bar after the incident.
Purinton, 53, entered the guilty plea to a three-count indictment on May 22nd at a Kansas federal court. He is slapped with hate crime and firearm charges.
The series of events that led to the killing of Kuchibhotla was mentioned the Department of Justice in a press release.
“Hate crimes are acts of evil, and the Department of Justice has prioritized their zealous prosecution,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio. “In this case, the defendant embarked on a murderous rampage with clear premeditation to kill on the basis of race, color, religion, and national origin. It was a hate crime, and he is being brought to justice. While we cannot ameliorate the irreparable harm to the victims and their families, we hope that securing this guilty plea brings them some measure of closure. And this prosecution sends a message across the nation: hate crimes will not be tolerated.”
“Nothing we do can provide complete comfort and solace to the victims of this tragic crime and their families,” said U.S. Attorney McAllister. “But our office hopes that the federal life sentence which Mr. Purinton has agreed to request and accept will give them some measure of closure.”
“Although Purinton has already been convicted of murder in the State of Kansas, and sentenced to life in prison, today’s plea in federal court speaks to his motive,” said FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones. “By his agreement to today’s plea, Purinton acknowledges that his actions were motived by his hatred of the victims’ race, religion, color and national origin. This type of hatred will never be tolerated. I think it’s important for the community to see and understand that the FBI is committed to aggressively protecting and preserving the civil rights of all of our communities.”