56-year-old Indian-origin store owner shot dead in US in front of daughter; suspect flees

An Indian-origin store during an armed robbery at a local business in Jackson, Tennessee, on Thursday evening, August 20. The Jackson Police Department said it is investigating the robbery and shooting that took place at Ridgecrest Cellars, located at 2880 Ridgecrest Road.

According to the police department, officers responded to a call about a robbery and shooting at the business at around 9 pm. Witnesses told police that an unidentified suspect entered the establishment, brandished a weapon and demanded cash from employees. Local media reported that Patel had taken over the store just days before the shooting. His 19-year-old daughter reportedly stood beside him and watched in horror when the gunman opened fire.

The suspect allegedly took money from an employee before firing multiple shots. One of the store employees was struck in the shooting. The victim was found dead at the scene and was identified as Suresh Patel, a 56-year-old man. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the robbery and shooting and are seeking information that could help identify the suspect.

According to the Jackson Police Department, the suspect was described as a Black male wearing a grey hoodie, jeans and black work-style boots. The suspect's face was covered with a paintball-style mask. After the shooting, the suspect was seen fleeing the business in a white sedan.

Police have appealed to anyone with information about the incident to contact the Jackson Police Department or Crime Stoppers. Callers to Crime Stoppers may remain anonymous. As per ackson Police Department, the investigation is ongoing, and they urged members of the public who may have witnessed the robbery or noticed the suspect or vehicle around the time of the incident to share any information that could assist investigators in the case.

The killing comes after two separate incidents involving people of Indian origin in the US were reported earlier. Earlier this year, a Gujarati woman, Meghna Patel, was shot dead inside her store in Norfolk, Virginia.

In another incident in September 2025, Kiran Patel, originally from Charotar, was killed in a parking lot after confronting an armed robber who had entered her store. The latest incident in Jackson is being investigated by the local police department. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the robbery or shooting to come forward.