Houston, Texas, USA: A 23-year-old man from Texas has been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of an Indian student at a gas station in Fort Worth on Friday night — an event that has left the Indian-American community deeply distressed and concerned.
According to officials, the suspect allegedly opened fire on 28-year-old Chandrashekar Pole while he was working a part-time shift at the gas station and then left the area. Police later tracked down and detained him.
The accused has been identified as Richard Florez, a resident of North Richland Hills. Authorities said he discharged his weapon at the gas station located on Eastchase Parkway.
Shortly afterwards, Florez reportedly fired at another vehicle about a mile away but caused no harm. He then attempted to enter a residence on Meadowbrook Drive, crashing into its gate before being taken into custody, police added.
A firearm was recovered from his vehicle following the arrest.
“A weapon was found inside the vehicle. The suspect, currently receiving medical care, has been charged in connection with the case,” said Officer Brad Perez, spokesperson for the Fort Worth Police Department, as quoted by NBCDFW.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Pole passed away at the scene.
Officials from both Fort Worth and Tarrant County stated that additional details have been delayed due to a temporary local government shutdown. The investigation remains ongoing, and the reason behind the attack has not yet been clarified.
The Consulate General of India in Houston has reached out to the victim’s family and is assisting with arrangements to send his remains back to India.
Members of the Indian-American community, along with several students, expressed their shock and sorrow, saying the recent rise in shooting-related incidents involving Indian students in the US has created concern and uncertainty among them.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help with the repatriation of Chandrashekar’s remains and to support his family during this difficult time.
According to Chandrashekar’s brother, Damodar, the victim had completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in Hyderabad before moving to the United States two years ago to pursue a Master’s in Data Analytics at the University of North Texas, Denton.
He had completed his program about six months ago and was actively looking for employment. To cover his expenses, he had taken up part-time work at the gas station, his brother added.
This incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of international students working part-time in the US, especially in late-night shifts that may pose higher risks.
There have been several cases in recent years involving Indian students in America who have lost their lives due to shootings or unexplained situations.
Earlier this year, a 26-year-old student from Telangana was reportedly shot in Connecticut, while another individual from Ranga Reddy district was found with gunshot wounds in the US. In September, a 30-year-old man from Mahabubnagar district passed away in California after being struck by police gunfire following a confrontation with his roommate.
Indian consulates have consistently worked with local authorities and victim families in such cases, navigating complex legal and administrative processes to provide closure to grieving relatives.
