US Navy veteran Adam Purinton, who has been charged with killing Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injuring two others in a hate crime appeared before a court in Kansas, where his public defender sought more time to review evidence.
Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, spoke about the incident in his press briefing on Thursday. “It’s something that I think all Americans should be outraged and disgusted by — and stand up for the principles that unite us, and that’s what the President spoke so eloquently about during his joint address,” Spicer said, referring to President Trump’s address last week.
Spicer said the Trump administration believes the way to stem such crimes is by continuing to "call them out" and by engaging with law enforcement.
Purinton, 51, is accused of killing Kuchibhotla, 32, and injuring Alok Madasani on February 22 and faces both murder and attempted murder charges. Purinton's next court appearance is scheduled for May 9.
Earlier this week, prosecutors filed an affidavit describing the events leading to the shooting. According to the document, Kuchibhotla and Madasani were watching a university basketball game at a pub when Purinton approached them and asked if they were legal immigrants.
He shouted "get out of my country" at the two Indians. Purinton continued to accost the two before employees escorted him out. He returned about 30 minutes later with a handgun, prosecutors say.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has written a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing "profound regret" at the terrible act of violence against the Indian nationals.
There has been a rash of hate crimes against Indian-Americans over the past 20 days. On March 2, a 43-year-old Indian-origin store owner in South Carolina was shot dead outside his home in a suspected hate crime. Then on March 4, Deep Rai, a Sikh man in Seattle was shot at. His assailant reportedly told him to "go back to your own country."
