Rakesh Ehagabhan a 51 year old Indian origin motel owner was shot dead on Friday in US. The incident took place after the victim went outside to check on a dispute. He was shot in the head after he stepped out hearing the commotion and reportedly asked the accused ‘Are you alright, buddy’? and nothing else before the attacker raised his gun and shot him. He died instantly at the scene as per reports.
The Shooter was later identified as a 37 year old Stanley Eugene West and the incident was also captured on camera as reported by news outlets.
Police said the suspect, West, had been staying at the motel for about two weeks with a woman and a child. Shortly before shooting Ehagabhan, he allegedly shot the woman described as his companion in the motel parking lot. According to western media outlets, the woman was inside her car with a child when she was shot by west in the neck. The injured woman however managed to drive away to a nearby hospital and she is currently undergoing treatment and remains in critical condition.
After killing Ehagaban, the gunman reportedly ‘nonchalantly walked to a U-Haul van parked nearby and drove away, according to the criminal complaint. West has been charged with three charges (Criminal homicide, attempted homicide and also reckless endargement.
Alarming increase of Attacks on Indians in US
Just weeks ago another motel owner Chandra Nagamallaiah was beheaded by a Cuban refugee in US which had sent shockwaves and even US President Donald Trump took to his social media platform and condemned the attack and said actions are in place to curb the entry of such illegal aliens and the suspect was arrested on the charges of capital punishment after the incident.
In 2025, at least five harrowing attacks on Indians have been reported in the United States, sparking outrage and concern within the community. From violent assaults to targeted hate crimes, these incidents have raised serious questions about safety and protection. These five are widely reported and covered by media but there are several such incidents that hasn’t got enough attention among the global community .
In July 2025, The ISKCON Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Utah, US, came under attack in suspected hate crimes over the past several days, according to a recent announcement shared on ISKCON’s official social media handle. According to the release, 20 to 30 bullets were fired at the temple building and the surrounding property during this period. It was further reported that the incidents occurred at night while devotees were still present on the premises. The attacks caused significant structural damage, including to the temple’s hand-carved arches.
Anti-Hindu hate crimes in California have also rose for the fourth consecutive year, according to a report by the state’s Department of Justice. CoHNA said many such cases go underreported due to fear within the Hindu community, who are mostly first or second-generation immigrants to the US.
Also in June this year a video had sparked massive outrage where an American Man’s discriminatory behavior was recorded on camera. In that video the American man approached the man who is of Indian descent and demanded to know why he’s in ‘his country’ he also expressed hostility stating that there are too many Indians in ‘White countries’ and he is fed up with the situation.
These incidents are seen as a part of a growing trend of hate crimes and xenophobic attacks against Indians and other minorities in Western countries. Indian Americans often face discrimination in various domains like the workplace, housing, education, and public spaces, often tied to skin colour, religion, or cultural stereotypes. While they are among the most educated and affluent ethnic groups in the US, with over 4.2 million people of Indian origin, discrimination remains a significant issue.
