A man from Hyderabad, identified as Anshul Kuncha, was allegedly shot dead in Philadelphia, United States, while delivering pizzas on the intervening night of June 5 and 6, his family members told PTI.
The Consulate General of India in New York, in a post on X late on Saturday night, said, "We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Mr. Anshul Kuncha, an Indian national in Philadelphia, PA. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time."
The 28-year-old from Telangana was shot dead in the early hours of Friday while delivering pizza to a house in Philadelphia. Local authorities said the pizza had been ordered to a house that was supposed to be vacant, while the victim's family alleged that he was lured into a trap.
Anshul Kuncha, whose family lives in Gundlapochampally in Medchal-Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad, had moved to the US four years ago after securing an employment opportunity there, his sister Tanvi said. While he worked at a multinational corporation, he also delivered pizzas on weekends to earn some extra income.
"He worked during the weekends delivering pizza to earn some extra cash. He did not even want to go to the US. He went only due to the family's expectations," Tanvi said.
"This is a message to all families trying to send their children to the US. Look at what happened to my brother. He ended up dead on a dark street, shot in the head," she added, recalling that he had previously been robbed of his gold chain, phone, and wallet.
Anshul's parents, K Srinivas and Nilima, live in Gundlapochampally.
According to US media reports, investigators found that someone had called in a pizza delivery order to a vacant unit in a housing complex in Philadelphia in the early hours of Friday. A CBS News report stated that Philadelphia Housing Authority cameras captured Kuncha walking with the pizza order while being followed by two people wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack.
Tanvi said, "As per US media reports, at least two persons wearing masks and backpacks ambushed him. One person shot him several times in the head. It was a setup as he was lured to a deserted and abandoned area to deliver the pizza. It was a fake order, and he walked into their trap."
"They did not rob him, but just shot him in the head and left him on the street to die. We do not know of any reason or what they gained by killing him," she added.
Remembering her brother as a "loving and joyful" person, Tanvi said, "Just for the sake of killing, they shot him dead. It was a premeditated act using a fake pizza order. The assailants did not rob the cash that Anshul was carrying at the time of the attack, making it clear that this was not a robbery gone wrong, but a deliberate plot to take his life."
The incident took place shortly after 12:30 am. After he was shot, passersby informed the police, who found him deceased at the spot.
The family has appealed to the Indian Consulate to help repatriate the body at the earliest.
"Our only request is that his body be brought back to India as early as possible," his sister said.
In a statement posted on X, the Consulate General of India in New York said, "We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Mr. Anshul Kuncha, an Indian national in Philadelphia, PA. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time. The Consulate is in touch with Anshul's family and is extending all possible assistance."
