Gujarat woman shot dead by masked robber at US store, CCTV captures 26-second horror
The incident took place on May 23, 2026, inside a nearly empty supermarket in Virginia. Surveillance footage from the store, which has now surfaced online, allegedly shows a hooded man entering the shop disguised as a customer before carrying out the attack.
An Indian woman from Gujarat who had spent a decade working at a supermarket in Virginia was shot dead during a suspected robbery attempt in the United States, with chilling CCTV footage capturing the gunman walking up to the counter, speaking briefly to her and then opening fire within seconds.
The victim, identified as 45-year-old Meghna Patel, hailed from Jantral village in Visnagar taluka of Gujarat’s Mehsana district. Her family confirmed that she had been employed at the Virginia supermarket for the past 10 years.
The incident took place on May 23, 2026, inside a nearly empty supermarket in Virginia. Surveillance footage from the store, which has now surfaced online, allegedly shows a hooded man entering the shop disguised as a customer before carrying out the attack.
According to the video, the suspect was wearing camouflage or animal-print pants, gloves, a jacket, a face mask and a hat. He is seen calmly approaching the counter where Meghnaben Patel was standing.
"He briefly spoke to Patel before opening fire within seconds," the footage reportedly shows.
Moments later, the man pulls out a handgun from his pocket and shoots her at close range. The disturbing footage shows Patel collapsing behind the counter after being hit.
The attacker then allegedly climbed over the counter and continued firing at her before grabbing items from the table area and fleeing the supermarket.
"He later jumps back, dropping a few store items on the floor, and exits the store in the same way he entered," according to details visible in the CCTV footage.
Upon receiving news of her murder, a wave of mourning spread through her hometown.
The victim's father, Karsanbhai Patel, and mother, Kapilaben, currently live in Jantral village, while her husband, Upendrabhai Patel, daughter, Nakshiben, and son, Smit, are settled in the United States.
Patel is the fourth person from Gujarat to be killed in the United States this year. News of her death sparked grief in her native village as well as among members of the Gujarati community in the US.
An Indian woman from Gujarat who had spent a decade working at a supermarket in Virginia was shot dead during a suspected robbery attempt in the United States, with chilling CCTV footage capturing the gunman walking up to the counter, speaking briefly to her and then opening fire within seconds.
The victim, identified as 45-year-old Meghna Patel, hailed from Jantral village in Visnagar taluka of Gujarat’s Mehsana district. Her family confirmed that she had been employed at the Virginia supermarket for the past 10 years.
The incident took place on May 23, 2026, inside a nearly empty supermarket in Virginia. Surveillance footage from the store, which has now surfaced online, allegedly shows a hooded man entering the shop disguised as a customer before carrying out the attack.
According to the video, the suspect was wearing camouflage or animal-print pants, gloves, a jacket, a face mask and a hat. He is seen calmly approaching the counter where Meghnaben Patel was standing.
"He briefly spoke to Patel before opening fire within seconds," the footage reportedly shows.
Moments later, the man pulls out a handgun from his pocket and shoots her at close range. The disturbing footage shows Patel collapsing behind the counter after being hit.
The attacker then allegedly climbed over the counter and continued firing at her before grabbing items from the table area and fleeing the supermarket.
"He later jumps back, dropping a few store items on the floor, and exits the store in the same way he entered," according to details visible in the CCTV footage.
Upon receiving news of her murder, a wave of mourning spread through her hometown.
The victim's father, Karsanbhai Patel, and mother, Kapilaben, currently live in Jantral village, while her husband, Upendrabhai Patel, daughter, Nakshiben, and son, Smit, are settled in the United States.
Patel is the fourth person from Gujarat to be killed in the United States this year. News of her death sparked grief in her native village as well as among members of the Gujarati community in the US.
