Indian woman from Gujarat shot dead during suspected robbery at Virginia supermarket

Highlights

• Meghnaben Patel was reportedly shot dead in Virginia
• Police launched an investigation after the incident
• A video circulating online appears to show the attack
• Patel was originally from Gujarat’s Mehsana district
• The incident follows another reported killing of an Indian national in the US

A 45-year-old Indian woman from Gujarat was reportedly shot dead during a suspected robbery attempt at a supermarket in Virginia, United States.

The victim was identified as Meghnaben Patel. According to reports, she had been working at the supermarket for the past 10 years.

Local police reached the scene soon after receiving information about the shooting. Authorities sealed the area and launched an investigation. Special teams were also reportedly deployed to identify and arrest the attacker.

A purported video of the incident has been circulating on social media. The footage appears to show a man entering the supermarket wearing animal-print pants, a full-sleeved jacket, gloves and a face mask.

The man is seen speaking to Patel, seemingly pretending to be a customer.

Moments later, he allegedly places his hands inside his pockets, walks in front of the counter and pulls out a gun from his jacket.

The video appears to show the attacker shooting Patel twice, causing her to collapse on the floor. He then reportedly jumps over the counter and fires another shot before fleeing the scene.

The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.

According to reports, Meghnaben Patel belonged to Jantral village in the Bijapur area of Gujarat’s Mehsana district.

She is survived by her husband, Upendrabhai Patel, daughter Nakshi and son Smith.

Her parents, Karsanbhai and Kapilaben, are reportedly living in Jantral village.

Villagers described Patel as a loving and simple-minded woman.

The incident comes months after another Indian national was reportedly shot dead in the United States.

In March this year, 22-year-old Chetak Sharma, also known as Laakha, from Haryana’s Karnal district, was allegedly found shot dead in his rented apartment in Georgia.

According to reports, Sharma had travelled illegally to the United States in 2024 after finishing school in search of better financial opportunities for his family.

He worked as a storekeeper and was found dead inside his room.

Reports said Sharma’s family had taken a loan of Rs 50 lakh to send him abroad. They later appealed to the government and social organizations for help in bringing his body back to India for his final rites.