A Gujarati man and his daughter, who were working at a departmental store in the US state of Virginia, were shot to death at their workplace on March 20. The family hailed from Mehsana district in Gujarat.
The suspect, George Frazier Devon Wharton, 44, who hailed from Onancock, Virginia, was arrested by police. He shot the father-daughter duo within five minutes after they opened the store around 5 am. He had come to buy alcohol and asked they why they did not keep the store open at night. Wharton then fatally shot both of them.
The father, Pradipkumar Ratilal Patel, 56 who was shot twice in the chest, died on the spot. The man's mortal remains were taken to the Norfolk Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy. His daughter, identified as Urvi Patel, 26, was shot in her head. She was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and died while being treated.
Pradipkumar, his wife Hansaben and daughter Urvi, who were originally from Kanoda village in Bechraji, Mehsana, had moved to the US six years ago. The family was working at the Shore Stop on Lankford Highway in Accomack County that was owned by their relative Paresh Patel. Urvi has two sisters, one of whom is in Ahmedabad and the other in Canada.
Wharton is currently imprisoned in Accomack Country Jail without bond. He has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, two counts of using a firearm in commission of a felony and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
The investigation was being carried out by the Accomack County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia State Police. They were assisted by the Parksley Volunteer Fire Department and the Accomack County Department of Public Safety.