The Olathe resident accused of killing an Indian national and wounding his friend and a bystander in February, was charged Friday by a federal grand jury with hate crimes and a firearms violation.
The three-count indictment accuses Adam Purinton, 52, of shooting and killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla because of Kuchibhotla’s race, color, religion and national origin. And it accuses him of attempting to kill Kuchibhotla’s friend, Alok Madasani, because of his race, color, religion and national origin.
Purinton, who already faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder in state court, faces maximum penalties of death or life in prison under the federal charges. Federal prosecutors will determine at a later date whether to seek the death penalty.
The federal grand jury also charged him with violating a federal firearms statute.
Purinton allegedly shot Kuchibhotla and Madasani, both Indian nationals who worked as engineers at Garmin, at Austin’s Bar & Grill in Olathe in February after reportedly yelling at them to “get out of my country.”
Kuchibhotla, 32, died at a hospital shortly afterward. Madasani, 32, survived. Another bar patron, Grandview resident Ian Grillot, 24, was shot in the hand and chest after he sought to intervene. He also survived.
Purinton faces a preliminary hearing on September 18 in Johnson County District Court on the original state court charges. He remains in the Johnson County Jail with bond set at $2 million.
