A 28-year-old man from Texas has been arrested in connection with the murder of Pole Chandrashekar, a student from LB Nagar, Hyderabad, who was shot dead on Friday night while working part-time at a gas station in Denton, Fort Worth.

The suspect, identified as Richard Florez, a resident of North Richland Hills, allegedly shot 27-year-old Chandrashekar and fled the scene before being apprehended by the police. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Chandrashekar’s identity and said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Suspect arrested after multiple incidents

According to police reports, shortly after the shooting, Florez fired at another vehicle about a mile away but did not injure anyone. He later crashed into a gate while attempting to enter a residence on Meadowbrook Drive.

Police arrested him soon after the crash and recovered a firearm from his vehicle.

“They also recovered a gun inside the vehicle at that scene… the suspect is currently in the hospital, but he has been booked for homicide,”
said Officer Brad Perez, spokesperson for the Fort Worth Police Department, quoted by NBCDFW on Monday.

Authorities said the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing. However, officials noted that further details have been delayed due to a local government shutdown in Tarrant County.

Consulate extends support to family

The Consulate General of India in Houston said it is in contact with Chandrashekar’s family and is assisting in the repatriation of his remains to Hyderabad.

BRS MLA Harish Rao Thanneeru visited the bereaved family and expressed condolences, assuring them of all possible assistance from the Telangana government.

Community in shock, fundraising underway

The Indian-American community and local student groups have expressed shock and grief over the killing. Many have raised concerns about the growing number of violent incidents targeting Indian students in the United States.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the repatriation of Chandrashekar’s remains and help his family in Hyderabad.

Who was Pole Chandrashekar?

Chandrashekar had completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in Hyderabad and moved to the United States two years ago to pursue a master’s in data analytics at the University of North Texas, Denton.

His brother, Damodar, said that Chandrashekar completed his degree six months ago and was actively looking for a job. He had taken up part-time work at the gas station to support himself while awaiting employment opportunities.

“He had just finished his studies and was planning to settle down. This tragedy has shattered our family,”
Damodar told reporters in Hyderabad.

Recent spate of attacks on Indians in the US

Chandrashekar’s killing is the latest in a series of violent incidents involving Indians and Indian-origin individuals in the US this year.

  • In January, Koyyada Ravi Teja, a 26-year-old student from Telangana, was shot dead in Connecticut.
  • In September, Mohammed Nizamuddin from Mahabubnagar was shot by police in California after a domestic altercation, sparking allegations of racial bias from his family.

These incidents have reignited discussions around the safety of international students working part-time, especially during late-night shifts at gas stations and convenience stores.