On Thursday, March 20, 2025, a devastating shooting at the Shore Stop convenience store in Accomack County, Virginia, left a 56-year-old Indian man, Pradipkumar Ratilal Patel, and his 24-year-old daughter dead. The incident occurred shortly after the store opened at 5:30 a.m., shocking the quiet community along Lankford Highway.

Deputies from the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunfire and discovered Pradipkumar deceased at the scene, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. His daughter, also an employee at the store, was found critically injured and was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The father and daughter, part of the local Indian community, were described as hardworking and well-liked, leaving friends and neighbors in mourning.

The suspect, 44-year-old George Frazier Devon Wharton from nearby Onancock, was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in a felony, and other related offenses. He is currently held without bond at the Accomack County Jail as authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack. Sheriff Todd Wessells has assured the public that the investigation remains a top priority, though no clear reason for the violence has been disclosed.

This tragedy has reverberated beyond Virginia, touching the Indian diaspora in the U.S. and raising concerns about workplace safety. As the community grieves, calls for justice and support for the victims’ family grow louder, underscoring the profound loss felt by all who knew them.