A tragic incident unfolded in Lithonia, Georgia, where a 25-year-old Indian-origin man, pursuing his Master's in the US, lost his life at the hands of a homeless assailant inside a store. Caught on camera, the horrifying footage captured Julian Faulkner relentlessly striking the student, Vivek Saini, with a hammer, resulting in his immediate demise.
The victim, Vivek Saini, was employed part-time as a clerk at the store where the fatal assault occurred. Colleagues recounted to authorities that they had provided shelter to Faulkner for nearly two days, offering him snacks, beverages, and even a jacket to combat the cold weather, as reported by WSB-TV.
Despite their hospitality, tensions escalated on January 16 when Vivek requested Faulkner to vacate the premises or face police intervention. In a tragic turn of events, Faulkner unleashed a brutal attack on Vivek with a hammer as he prepared to depart for home. Witnesses described a harrowing scene, with Vivek enduring nearly fifty blows to his head.
Law enforcement arrived on the scene to find Faulkner wielding the hammer over Vivek's lifeless body. Tragically, Vivek was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a shattered community in mourning.
Vivek's family, residing in Haryana's Barwala, shared heart-wrenching details about his aspirations and untimely demise. A diligent student, Vivek had ventured to the US two years prior after completing his B Tech in Computer Science from Chandigarh University. Recently, he had accomplished his Masters in Business Administration from Alabama University.
Speaking to India Today, Vivek's cousin Simran recounted his gentle nature and the devastating circumstances that led to his demise. Simran revealed that Vivek's body had been repatriated to India, where his final rites were solemnly performed.
"He was a brilliant student who simply sought a stable job to support himself and his family. While working at the store, he encountered the individual responsible for his death, who often frequented the premises to beg for cigarettes. Despite extending kindness, Vivek's refusal to entertain the man's demands on that fateful day tragically led to his cold-blooded murder," lamented Simran.
In an emotional revelation, Simran disclosed Faulkner's troubled background, describing him as a "drug addict and a psycho." The grief-stricken family, grappling with the incomprehensible loss of Vivek, remains inconsolable, with his parents, Gurjeet Singh and Lalita Saini, unable to articulate the profound anguish they endure.
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