The Consulate General of India in Atlanta issued a stern condemnation on Monday (local time), expressing deep distress over the tragic killing of a 25-year-old Indian student in Georgia's Lithonia city. The Consulate strongly denounced the "brutal" nature of the incident and emphasized its profound anguish regarding the matter.
Vivek Saini, a recent MBA graduate in the US, tragically lost his life in a store at the hands of a homeless man named Julian Faulkner. Saini had been assisting Faulkner for several days prior to the fatal attack, highlighting the shocking nature of the incident.
In a statement shared on X, the Consulate General of India in Atlanta acknowledged the arrest of the perpetrator by US authorities and their ongoing investigation into the matter. The Consulate immediately reached out to Saini's family following the incident, extending all necessary consular support to facilitate the repatriation of the victim's remains to India, and maintaining continuous communication with the bereaved family.
The horrifying attack, captured on camera, depicted Faulkner ruthlessly striking Saini approximately 50 times with a hammer, causing fatal injuries. Saini, who worked part-time at the store, had shown kindness to Faulkner, providing him with shelter and amenities before the tragic turn of events.
According to reports, Saini's colleagues at the store had been accommodating Faulkner for nearly two days, offering him food, drinks, and warm clothing due to the cold weather. However, on January 16, Saini requested Faulkner to leave the premises, leading to the fatal altercation.
Upon police arrival, Faulkner was found wielding the murder weapon over Saini's lifeless body. Saini, who had pursued higher education in the US after completing his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Chandigarh University, recently earned his MBA from Alabama University. His untimely demise has left his family, hailing from Haryana's Barwala, devastated.
Saini's body has been repatriated to India, where his final rites were performed, bringing closure to his grieving loved ones.
