An Indian American man, Khandu Patel, 56, father of two children, was shot dead in Whitehaven, Tennessee, last week, after getting caught in crossfire outside America’s Best Value Inn in Whitehaven, Memphis. Patel worked as a housekeeper at the motel, and also was staying there temporarily with his wife and son, reported Fox News 13. Patel was on the second floor balcony, getting ready to take a dinner break when a shootout erupted
Memphis police want to know who killed a motel worker killed in the crossfire of a shootout at a Whitehaven Motel. People at the motel said the scene was horrifying. “I was terrified,” said 8-year-old Amaya Matthews. Matthews and several other children were outside playing Monday around 7:30 p.m. when bullets started flying at Americas Best Value Inn and Suites in Whitehaven.
“He finished his days’ work and was out walking around the property. Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest,” said Jay Patel, the victim’s nephew. “He didn’t even make it to the hospital to be saved.” He needed to just make it one more week before he was preparing to move with his family.
“They were ready to shift over to the Southaven area for another job. He was ready to get out of there,” said Jay Patel. “Just trying to put food on the table so he had to take what he had at the time.” For the Patel family the loss is still surreal. Jay remembers his uncle as a hardworking father. Patel said Khandu had worked at Americas Best Value Inn for about eight months.