An Olathe man was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of a hate crime and firearms charges for shooting three men at an Olathe bar on Feb. 22.
Adam W. Purinton, 52, of Olathe, Kan., was indicted in U.S. District Court, according to Acting Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Wheeler II and U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Beall.
Today’s indictment accused Purinton of shooting and killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla because of Kuchibhotla’s actual and perceived race, color, religion and national origin.
The indictment also accused Purinton of attempting to kill Alok Madasani because of his actual and perceived race, color, religion and national origin.
A third count in the indictment charged Purinton with violating a federal firearms statute by discharging a firearm at Kuchibhotla, Madasani and a third man, Ian Grillot, during the crimes of violence. Kuchibhotla and Madasani were Indian nationals. The indictment stated that Purinton discharged a semiautomatic pistol.
The indictment alleged that Purinton committed the offenses after substantial planning and premeditation, attempted to kill more than one person in a single criminal episode, and knowingly created a grave risk of death to others on the scene.
The statute authorizes a maximum penalty of death or life in prison; the Justice Department will determine at a later date whether, in this particular case, it will seek the death penalty.
The Justice Department requested that Purinton’s trial be held in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas.
An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Investigating agencies included the FBI and the Olathe Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tris Hunt and David Zabel of the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.