Highlights:
A 50-year-old Indian origin motel manager, Rakesh Patel, was shot dead in Pennsylvania after he allegedly stepped out upon hearing gunfire during a couple's quarrel. The accused, Stanley West (37), was later arrested after an exchange of shots with police.
Patel originally from Rayam village in Bardoli taluka, Surat of Indian state Gujarat had lived in Pennsylvania for several years with his wife Hrmu and their three daughters. He co-owned the motel where he worked.
Back in India, Patel's relatives and friends gathered as his brother-in-law Jitendra Patel's home in Singod village on Monday (6) to pay their respects. A photo of Rakesh Patel was placed on their chair surrounded by flowers and garlands during the memorial.
Jitendra Patel, "My brother-in-law went to the US with his mother when he was four years old. He stayed and studied there. He married my sister, Hemuben, in 2001 at Bardoli, and later, in 2002, she left for the US.”
He shared that the couple's three daughters include Karishma (19), who survived a serious accident and underwent 18 surgeries; Angana (13), who suffers from kidney and lung issues; and Kruti (9) who is healthy. “Hemu also works in the same motel with Rakesh Patel,” Jitendra added.
Rakesh and his family last visited India in December 2024 for a family wedding and again came in August 2025 for the Rakshabandhan festival and to see Jitendra's ailing mother.
Jitendra recalled the night of the tragedy: “My sister called me up on October 3 at 10:45 pm and informed me about the incident, and she was crying a lot. She was at the motel when the incident occurred. We were all shocked after learning about the incident. We are all in pain, as I only have one sister.”
According to investigators, the incident began when Stanley West argued with his female companion in the motel parking lot and shot her. Hearing the gunfire, Patel stepped outside, where West shot him dead on the spot. Hearing the gunfire, Patel stepped outside, where West shot him dead on the spot. Police reviewed CCTV footage to identify the suspect, who later opened fire on officers before being injured and arrested in Pittsburgh's East Hills area.
