(PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA) An Indian-origin motel manager was shot dead in Pittsburgh on Friday, October 3, 2025, after stepping outside to check on a guest during a disturbance, local authorities said. The victim, Rakesh Ehagaban-Patel, 51, originally from Rayam village near Bardoli in Gujarat, India, was killed at the Pittsburgh Motel in Robinson Township. Surveillance video shows the gunman firing at close range moments after Patel asked, “Are you alright, bud?” This is the fourth killing of an Indian-origin person in the United States within a week.
Police identified the suspected shooter as Stanley Eugene West, 37, a motel guest who had been staying at the property for about two weeks with a woman and a child. According to investigators, West first shot a woman—believed to be his companion—in the neck while she sat in a car with a child in the back seat. The woman drove away and is hospitalized in critical condition; the child was not hurt.
When Patel came outside after hearing gunfire and commotion, West allegedly shot him in the head at point-blank range. West fled the scene in a U-Haul van and was arrested after a police chase and shootout during which a Pittsburgh detective was injured. Authorities said West was hospitalized following his arrest.
He faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and recklessly endangering another person. The investigation remains active, with prosecutors preparing the case as the local Indian community mourns a respected motel manager whose routine welfare check turned deadly.
Incident and investigation
The shooting happened outside the Pittsburgh Motel in Robinson Township, a busy commercial area near the airport where many travelers, temporary workers, and families pass through.
Patel was a long-time motel manager and father, known for his calm manner and hands-on approach with guests. Friends said he often spent long hours at the front desk and stepped in when problems arose. On Friday evening, he responded to reports of a disturbance in the parking lot.
Moments later, the fatal encounter unfolded on camera: Patel asked a simple, humane question—“Are you alright, bud?”—before the gunman fired. According to investigators, the alleged sequence began when West shot the woman in the neck while the child sat in the rear seat. She managed to drive away and reach help; that gunfire drew Patel outside. West, still armed, turned his weapon on the manager.
After fleeing, West engaged with officers before being taken into custody. Police said they recovered evidence and reviewed surveillance footage that captured the attack. West will face a court appearance after he is medically cleared.
Authorities have not announced a motive. Investigators have not indicated any bias element, but the killing has deepened unease within the Indian diaspora given the cluster of recent fatal attacks targeting Indian-origin individuals across the country.
Community response and safety context
Patel’s death is the fourth case involving the killing of an Indian-origin person in the United States within a week.
Notable recent incidents:
– In Dallas, 27-year-old student Chandrashekhar Pole was shot dead at a gas station.
– In a separate Dallas case on September 10, motel manager Chandramouli Nagamallaiah, 50, was beheaded after a workplace dispute.
Community leaders said the string of violent episodes has shaken families and workers who power the nation’s hospitality sector.
Motel ownership and risk factors
- In 2025, at least seven people of Gujarat origin have been killed in motel-related crimes across the country, a trend advocates call worrying.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com shows Gujaratis own about 60% of the motel business in the United States, a share built over decades through family-run operations.
- Front-line roles (late nights, isolated sites, frequent contact with distressed or unstable guests) can increase risk for motel staff and managers.
VisaVerge.com reports that recent crimes have renewed calls for better safety protocols at budget properties, including:
– improved lighting
– reinforced office barriers
– panic buttons
– faster police response agreements
National trends and data
National crime figures are mixed: FBI data shows overall violent crime fell 4.5% last year, but counts of hate crimes remain among the highest in decades. While police have not linked Friday’s killing to bias, fear spreads when tragedies pile up.
Indian government records show 318 Indians have been attacked or assaulted abroad since 2022, with 34 incidents in the United States, the second-highest nationwide total. Those numbers help explain why many immigrant families feel on edge even when national averages suggest improvement.
For readers interested in official crime data, the FBI’s statistics are publicly accessible:
– FBI Crime Data Explorer
Safety recommendations and community actions
Local leaders and community groups are urging both short-term and long-term steps to improve motel safety.
Short-term measures being promoted:
1. Staff training on when to call police first.
2. Procedures for handling disputes from a safe distance.
3. Use of video systems to observe before engaging.
4. Limiting late-night face-to-face interactions; switching to window service or secure vestibules after certain hours.
5. Standardized incident logs and regular coordination meetings with local precincts.
Longer-term investments under consideration:
– More cameras with better angles and coverage.
– Emergency alarms that notify both on-site staff and law enforcement.
– Physical changes to create safer movement lanes around parking lots.
– Insurance incentives (premium credits) for proven security measures.
– Grants for small businesses in high-risk areas to install lighting and secure entry systems.
Law enforcement agencies encourage businesses and workers to engage with crime prevention officers and to report threats promptly. Accurate reporting helps police and policymakers spot patterns and direct resources where they are needed most.
Community healing and accountability
As Patel’s family and the wider community grieve, they are asking for accountability and support. That includes:
– aggressive prosecution where evidence supports it
– support for the woman hospitalized from the initial shooting
– practical help for workers who now fear the next late-night knock
Community responses include:
– planned vigils
– outreach to motel owners to share safety checklists and crisis contacts
– faith leaders offering counseling and translation help to families far from relatives in India
For many Indian-origin families in Pittsburgh and beyond, the pain of this week’s news coexists with a familiar drive to keep businesses open and staff safe. Motel work has enabled many families to build stable lives in the United States—paying mortgages, funding college, and supporting relatives abroad.
The hope is simple: to keep doors open to paying guests, not danger. That hope now rests on better safety plans, steady policing, and a justice process that treats every victim with care.
This Article in a Nutshell
Rakesh Ehagaban-Patel, 51, a respected manager at the Pittsburgh Motel in Robinson Township, was fatally shot on October 3, 2025 after responding to a disturbance. Surveillance shows suspect Stanley Eugene West first shot a woman—who later drove to safety and remains hospitalized—then shot Patel at point-blank range. West fled in a U-Haul and was arrested after a police chase and shootout; charges include criminal homicide and attempted homicide. Patel’s death is the fourth killing of an Indian-origin person in the U.S. within a week, prompting community grief and renewed calls for improved safety at motels, including better lighting, reinforced barriers, panic buttons, and faster police coordination. Investigators have not announced a motive.
