The shooter was identified as 37-year-old Stanley Eugene West, and the incident was also captured on camera, reported India Today.
Woman shot before motel owner’s murderPolice said the suspect, West, had been staying at the motel for about two weeks with a woman and a child. Shortly before shooting Ehagaban, he allegedly shot the woman — described as his companion — in the motel parking lot.
According to reports, the woman was inside her car with a child when she was shot by West in the neck. The injured woman, however, managed to drive away to a nearby auto service centre. She was found by the police who rushed her to a hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment and remains in critical condition.
Gunman fled in U-Haul vanAfter killing Ehagaban, the gunman reportedly “nonchalantly walked to a U-Haul van parked nearby and drove away,” according to the criminal complaint. West has been charged with criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and reckless endangerment.
Manhunt and police confrontation
Following the attack, police tracked West to Pittsburgh’s East Hills area, where he allegedly exchanged gunfire with officers. During the shootout, a Pittsburgh detective was injured and taken to the hospital.
The police tracked the attacker to the East Hills neighbourhood of Pittsburgh. A firing also broke out between the officers and West, leaving one Pittsburgh detective injured.
West was also shot by the officials, and both the officials and West were shifted to a hospital.
A further probe into the incident is underway and the police are reviewing the CCTV footage.
The incident comes nearly a month after an Indian-origin motel manager was beheaded following a dispute over a washing machine, reported PTI, citing police. The 50-year-old man was killed in front of his wife and son in Texas. The suspect, who was a co-worker, was arrested on the charges of capital murder following the incident.
