Adam Purinton, the man charged with killing Indian techie Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injuring two others in an apparent hate crime at a pub in Kansas, has made his first court appearance.
The U.S. Navy veteran, appeared before a court in Houston, Texas, on Monday.
Michelle Durrett from the Johnson County Public Defenders Office will serve as Purinton’s attorney.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Steve Howe, Johnson County District Attorney, Purinton faces 50 years prison time on state charges.
The FBI is also helping gather evidence in the shooting because Kansas does not have a hate crime statute.
If their agents can prove that Purinton’s alleged actions constitute a hate crime, he could face federal charges that could potentially carry the death penalty.
ADVERTISEMENT
Purinton is currently being held in the Johnson County jail on a $2 million cash bond.
Prosecutors claim Purinton opened fire inside Austin’s restaurant in Olathe last Wednesday night, killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounding his colleague Alok Madasani. Ian Grillot, a 24-year-old American man was also injured while intervening in the shooting.
Police arrested Purinton in Henry County, west central Missouri, after he reportedly walked into an Applebee’s restaurant there and confided to the bartender that he was involved in a shooting.
The shooter was charged on Thursday with first degree murder. He was also charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder in the shootings of Mr. Madasani and Mr. Grillot.
He was extradited to Kansas on Friday.