Sai Kiran: Indian Student Shot Dead In Florida After Refusing To Hand Over iPhone To Robbers


A 23-year-old Indian student studying in Miami, Florida, was allegedly shot dead by robbers after he refused to part with his iPhone. According to reports by several Indian newspapers, including the Bangalore Mirror, the student has been identified as Sai Kiran, who is a native of the city of Hyderabad in the newly formed Telangana State of Southern India. Sai Kiran, who had come to the U.S. just a month ago, was a student at the Florida Atlantic University. He was pursuing an MS course at the university, a Zee News report said.

Indian news agency ANI adds that Sai Kiran was shot for the sole reason that he did not give his iPhone to the robbers. The men who were behind this act continue to remain unidentified.

Sai Kiran’s parents confirmed the news of this death;

“Sai Kiran was shot dead by locals over a petty issue,” they told ANI.

According to initial reports, four rounds were fired at Kiran by the unidentified gunmen. Sai’s uncle, Shravan Kumar added.

“Four rounds were fired at Sai Kiran at around 12.15 pm today. Some people came & asked for his ‘iPhone’ but the assailants shot him after he refused.

“We received information from his friends that some people demanded his phone on which he was already talking. His friend on the other end of the call heard four rounds of gun shots being fired. We are awaiting more details.”

Strangely, news of the shooting incident has not been reported yet in the U.S. media.

This is not the first time an Indian student met with a similar death in the U.S. In 2014, another student from India, a native of Andhra Pradesh identified as 22-year-old Elaprolu Jayachandra, was shot dead during a robbery attempt at a convenience store in Pasadena, Texas.

Another Indian man was in the news earlier this year when he was left paralyzed following an assault by the police. The man, Sureshbhai Patel, was simply out for an evening stroll in a wealthy Alabama neighborhood when someone felt threatened and complained about him.

Meanwhile, Sai Kiran’s parents have sought the help of the Indian government to help bring his body back to India.

Is the United States increasingly becoming hostile towards its foreign students and tourists? What do you think?

[Image Via NDTV]

Share this article: Sai Kiran: Indian Student Shot Dead In Florida After Refusing To Hand Over iPhone To Robbers
More from Inquisitr