Chicago, 1 December 2024: A 22-year-old man from Khammam district in Telangana was fatally shot early Saturday at a gas station near Chicago, where he had been working part-time, family members confirmed. Sai Teja Nukarapu, a student pursuing his MBA in the U.S., was not on duty when the incident occurred but had stayed back to assist a friend, according to BRS MLC Madhusudan Thatha, who received preliminary information from the U.S.
The shooting took place in the early hours of Saturday, India time, when the assailants targeted Sai Teja while he was helping a friend who had briefly stepped away from the gas station. “It is tragic that Sai Teja lost his life while simply trying to help a friend,” a relative of the deceased said. “He had finished his BBA in India and was studying for his MBA in the U.S. This was just a part-time job to support himself.”
The Telangana MLC, who visited the victim’s family in Khammam, expressed his condolences and revealed that he had reached out to the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) for assistance in navigating the aftermath of the attack. “We are working with the community to ensure that justice is served,” he added.
In response to the incident, the Consulate General of India in Chicago condemned the shooting and demanded swift action against the perpetrators. “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of Indian student Nukarapu Sai Teja. Immediate action must be taken against the culprits,” the consulate said in a statement on social media. “We will extend all possible help to the victim’s family and friends.”
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed his grief over the incident. “I am deeply grieved at this news. Our Consulate is providing all necessary support to the family during this difficult time,” Jaishankar wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice from both the Indian diaspora and local authorities, as the investigation into the shooting continues.
