A chilling video has surfaced on social media showing the final moments of 51-year-old Indian-origin motel owner, Rakesh Ehagaban, who was fatally shot in Pittsburgh last Friday. The incident, captured on the motel’s CCTV cameras, shows the accused calmly approaching Ehagaban and shooting him in the head at point-blank range.
Shot while checking on disturbance
Ehagaban, who owned the Pittsburgh Motel in Robinson Township, had reportedly stepped outside to investigate a disturbance in the parking lot. The footage shows him walking toward a man involved in the commotion and asking, “Are you all right, bud?” Moments later, the man, identified as 37-year-old Stanley Eugene West, raises a firearm and shoots him in the head. Ehagaban died instantly.
Suspect had opened fire on woman earlier
According to local media reports, West had been staying at the motel. Prior to the fatal shooting, he allegedly opened fire on a woman who was attempting to leave the premises with a child. The woman, also a guest at the motel, sustained a gunshot wound to the neck. The child was unharmed.
Police said Ehagaban was unaware of the earlier shooting when he stepped out to assess the situation. After killing him, West reportedly walked to a nearby van and drove away from the scene.
Woman escapes, police track suspect
The injured woman managed to reach a nearby auto service centre, where she was found by police and paramedics. She was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Using licence plate recognition technology, authorities traced the suspect’s van to Pittsburgh’s East Hills neighbourhood. When officers attempted to apprehend him, West allegedly opened fire, prompting a gunfight. Both West and a police detective were injured in the exchange and are currently hospitalised.
Multiple charges filed, motive under investigation
West has been charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and recklessly endangering another person. Police described the attack as “deliberate and unprovoked” and said the investigation into the motive is ongoing.
Second attack on Indian-origin motel worker in weeks
The incident comes just weeks after another violent attack involving an Indian-origin motel worker in the US. In that case, 50-year-old Chandramouli Nagamallaiah was reportedly beheaded in front of his wife and son at a Texas motel following a dispute over a broken washing machine. The accused, a co-worker, was arrested and charged with capital murder.
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