50-year sentence likely for Kansas shooting suspect

Adam Purinton, 51, appeared before a Johnson County District Court judge via video conference on Monday. Purinton faces one charge of first-degree murder and two charges of attempted first-degree murder in last Wednesday’s shooting at the bar in Olathe. 

According to Steve Howe, Johnson County District Attorney, Purinton faces 50 years jail term on state charges. Srinivas Kuchibotla, 32, was killed and Alok Madasani, of the same age, was injured in the shooting by Purinton who yelled “get out of my country” before opening fire. 

A 24-year-old American named Ian Grillot tried to intervene and received injuries in the firing in Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas. Michelle Durrett from the Johnson County Public Defenders Office will serve as Purinton’s attorney.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined local law enforcement agencies in investigating the incident that has shocked the entire Indian-American community and several hundreds of Indians either working or studying in the US. Meanwhile, the White House has said that the early reports coming from Kansas were “disturbing”. The White House also condemned the alleged hate crimes against the Jewish community in the US.