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0 commentsNorth Carolina's Indian diaspora community is mourning the loss of a 36-year-old Indian-origin man, Mainank Patel, who was shot and killed on Tuesday morning during a robbery at his convenience store, Tobacco House, located at 2580 Airport Road in Salisbury, North Carolina. The incident has left the local community in shock and mourning, as a juvenile suspect has been taken into custody for the crime.
A Routine Day Turns Tragic
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 hang-up call from Tobacco House just before 11:15 a.m. on August 13. Captain Mark McDaniel, the public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, stated that while deputies were en route, they received further reports of a shooting at the location. Upon their arrival, they found Patel suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Mainank was immediately transported to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and later transferred to Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte for further treatment. Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries.
Surveillance Footage and the Arrest
Security footage from the store showed a tall, slender white male dressed in black shorts, a black hoodie, and a black ski mask fleeing the scene on foot across the store’s parking lot. The suspect, who was also wearing white Nike tennis shoes with burgundy logos, appeared to be carrying a black handgun.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that a juvenile male suspect was apprehended later that evening in connection with the shooting. Due to his age, the suspect’s identity has not been released. Authorities have yet to provide additional details about the arrest or the investigation, but they believe the motive for the shooting was robbery.
A Family Man Remembered
Mainank, affectionately known as “Mike” by his friends and customers, was well-loved in the community. Originally from Vadodara, India, he moved to the United States in 2007 to study computer science and eventually settled in Salisbury. He had taken over the Tobacco House store from a relative and had been a fixture in the community ever since.
Mainank is survived by his wife, Ami, who is seven-and-a-half months pregnant, and their 5-year-old daughter. His sudden and tragic death has left his family and the wider community reeling. His sister, Arohi Patel, who resides in Vadodara, expressed the family’s grief, saying, “My brother Mainank studied in Vadodara from 1st to 12th grade. For further studies, he went to America in 2007, studied computer science there, and then settled down. On August 13, a minor shot him.”
Mainank's last visit to India was in February 2024 for a family wedding, a trip that has now taken on poignant significance for his loved ones. His parents, Ashaben and Nileshbhai, had joined him in the U.S. six months ago after receiving their green cards. The family’s joy at being reunited has been shattered by this devastating loss.
A Community in Mourning
In the wake of Mainank's death, the Salisbury community has come together to honor his memory. Flowers and cards were placed outside Tobacco House on Wednesday, as customers and friends paid tribute to a man they described as kind, generous, and always willing to help others.
Ann Ellis, a regular customer, captured the collective grief, saying, “It hit everybody because this was a family, this was a community family store.” Another customer, Patricia Howard, described Patel as “a super good man, good to his customers, loved his family, and would have helped anyone.”
Javier Lopez, who has maintained the store’s lawn for years, even before Patel took over, shared his sorrow: “I just saw him yesterday morning, and on my way home from work, I saw the police and stopped to see what had happened. There are just no words to describe how great a guy Mike was.”
Questions Remain
While the investigation is ongoing, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Local authorities have speculated that the incident was a robbery gone wrong, but details are scarce. Patel, who had been advised by local police to keep a gun for protection, reportedly tried to defend himself when the suspect drew his weapon. Tragically, the juvenile suspect fired first, fatally wounding Mainank.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office continues to review surveillance footage and gather evidence as they work to piece together the events that led to Patel’s death. Funeral arrangements are still being made, and the community is rallying around Patel’s family during this difficult time.
Help the Family with GoFundMe
You can help the family with this GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-mainank-patels-family-through-this-trag…
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