Kansas Bar Shooting Survivor Calls on Trump to Address Hate Crime

Ian Grillot, the man who was shot and wounded trying to tackle a gunman that opened fire killing one Indian engineer and injuring another at a Kansas bar, called on President Donald Trump to address the crime in his speech to Congress.

In a news conference held by The University of Kansas Health System on February 28, Grillot said he would like US President Donald Trump to address the shooting in his address to Congress because “people all around the world are waiting for something, some kind of statement.”

A White House spokesperson condemned the shooting on Tuesday as an “act of racially motivated hatred" after the FBI had announced it was investigating the shooting as a hate crime. Trump’s administration has faced criticism for not earlier addressing the shooting.

Grillot said he was only doing the right thing and was not a hero, and that he felt sorry for the gunman as “life is too short for hate and anger.”

Grillot was injured trying to intervene after the gunman shot and killed Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounded Alok Madasani at the Austin Bar & Grill on the evening of Wednesday, February 22. Witnesses told the Kansas City Star that the gunman shouted “get out of my country” before opening fire on the two engineers who worked for Garmin. Olathe Police have charged Adam Purington, 51 with murder and attempted murder.

The hospital said Grillot, who was shot in the chest and hand, was “one centimeter away from death,” local media reported. Grillot’s condition has improved but he will face a long road of recovery. Credit: YouTube/KUHospital via Storyful