In yet another attack on Indians living in the US, a 26-year-old man from Hoshiarpur was shot dead in an alleged robbery at the gas station he was working, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.
In a series of tweets on Saturday morning, Swaraj said, " I have received a report on the shootout incident resulting in the tragic death of Indian national Vikram Jaryal in Washington State, USA. The victim was only 26 years old and had reached US only 25 days back. He was working at the gas station of a family friend. On 6 April two miscreants entered the shop at 1.30 am. They snatched cash from victim and shot on his chest. This resulted in his death."
The minister said that Indian authorities were "coordinating with the investigative agencies."
"We are coordinating with the investigative agencies. They have got the CCTV footage and are in the process of apprehending the culprits," she said.
She added that the Indian consulate in San Francisco is helping the victim's family and "following this up with the Police authorities."
According to a report by PTI, Jaryal was allegedly shot dead by two masked armed robbers at a convenience store of a gas station in Washington state.
He hailed from Hoshiarpur district in Punjab and had shifted to the US about a month ago, his elder brother told PTI.
Jaryal, who was working as a clerk in the store at AM-PM Gas Station in Yakima city, was behind the counter when two people in masks came in and robbed the store yesterday.
Police said the clerk handed the suspects money, but one of the suspects fired at him.
He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
"The victim was able to tell officers what happened when they arrived a few minutes later; but tragically, he died a short time later at the hospital," police was quoted as saying by the NBC Right Now channel.
Police are investigating the case and are now looking for two men caught on surveillance camera leaving the store.
"Somebody knows something. Somebody knows these people. The still photos show a very recognisable top that one of the suspects is wearing," Mike Bastinelli, Yakima Police Department said.
"The shooter wore a black hoodie with patches of white on the back," Mike said.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on Indian nationals or people of Indian origin living in the US since President Donald Trump assumed office in January.
An Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed while his friend injured in a shooting by an Army veteran on February 22.
The incident has drawn widespread attention to the safety of Indian Americans living in the United States.
On March 3, another Indian national Deep Rai was shot by a partially masked gunman in his driveway while working on his car in Kent, Washington state.
