Indian student stabbed in US continues on life support; suffered severe neurological impairment
Washington (PTI): P Varun Raj, the 24-year-old Indian student who was stabbed at a fitness centre in the US state of Indiana over the weekend, continues to be in a critical condition and is on life support, sources familiar with his ongoing treatment said.
Varun, a Computer Science student, was stabbed with a knife into the temple by the assailant Jordan Andrade, 24, at the public gym on Sunday morning for reasons that the authorities are still investigating.
"After three days of treatment, Varun continues to be on life support and has severe neurological impairment. He is likely to sustain permanent disability and have partial, if not complete, vision loss and left-sided weakness," sources told PTI.
Following the incident, the attacker was arrested and is facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.
Varun has now been transferred to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne because of the serious nature of the injuries.
Meanwhile, assailant Andrade, who appeared before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer, pleaded not guilty to the charges of a Level 1 and Level 3 felony.
The judge set his bond at USD 500,000 cash and USD 500,000 surety.
According to The Chicago Tribune newspaper, Andrade said he could afford a USD 300,000 bond. The judge deemed Andrade a flight risk.
The Valparaiso University president expressed his shock over the brutal attack on one of its students.
"We are shocked and saddened by the attack on Varun Raj. At Valparaiso University, we consider each other family, and this incident is horrifying for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family," Jose Padilla, the university's president, said in a statement provided to the Post-Tribune on Wednesday.
"In addition to our thoughts and prayers, the University and Valpo Community are offering all assistance and resources available to help Varun's family get to the United States as quickly as possible," Michael Fenton said in an email to Chicago Tribune, adding that the university also is providing full support to the ongoing investigation by the Valparaiso Police Department.
The North American Telugu Society (NATS) has started a fundraiser on GoFund and by Wednesday night raised over USD 38,000.
"Currently, he is in critical condition, battling for his life in a coma, and his family is facing a harrowing journey filled with uncertainty and overwhelming medical bills. We were contacted by the family with a heavy heart, asking for our support to cover his extensive medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to the USA," NATS said.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
