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Kansas Bar Shooting Survivor Hopes Incident Will Unite Community

A man who was shot and wounded trying to tackle a gunman, who opened fire killing one Indian engineer and injuring another at a Kansas bar, has shared his account of the deadly shooting.

Ian Grillot said he was “more than happy to risk his life to save the lives of others” and he had to take action knowing there were families and kids watching a college basketball game in the Olathe bar at the time of the shooting. He was grateful the unfortunate incident brought the community together. In face of “so much hate” and “not enough love,” Grillot thought it was important to care for someone “apart from your race” because “we are all humans.”

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. The incident has provoked a storm on social media in India enflaming concerns about President Donald Trump’s comments on immigration, which could impact on visas for skilled Indian workers.

Olathe Police have charged Adam Purington, 51 with murder and attempted murder. The suspect will appear in court on Monday. Credit: YouTube/KUHospital via Storyful