Indian Student Fatally Stabbed at US Gym, Attacker Apprehended
Valparaiso University in Indiana, USA, is mourning the loss of one of its students, Varun Raj Pucha, who tragically passed away on November 5. The 24-year-old computer science student was fatally stabbed at a public gym in Fort Wayne by Jordan Andrade. Pucha had been battling for his life since the October 29 attack but succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Fort Wayne’s Lutheran Hospital.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind this senseless act of violence. Following the incident, the assailant was promptly arrested and is now facing charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder.
In a statement expressing their sorrow, Valparaiso University said, It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Varun Raj Pucha. Our campus community has lost one of its own, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Varun’s family and friends as we mourn this devastating loss.
What provokes further confusion in this case is that Andrade and Pucha had never interacted prior to the attack. Andrade told the police that he had been informed by someone that Pucha was threatening in some way. However, staff members at Planet Fitness, the gym where the incident occurred, stated that Pucha was a quiet and reserved individual who simply kept to himself. There was no indication that he posed any threat to anyone.
According to law enforcement authorities, Andrade walked into the gym’s massage room and encountered Pucha, whom he described as a little weird. Andrade claimed that he felt threatened by Pucha and that his reaction was spontaneous.
Varun Raj Pucha, a native of Mamilligudem in Khammam, Telangana, had traveled to the United States in August 2022 to pursue his studies. He was expected to return to his hometown upon completing his course next year, making his untimely demise even more heartbreaking for his loved ones.
As the investigation unfolds, the Valparaiso University community and the Indian student community at large are left in shock and mourning. The loss of young lives and the rising instances of violence continue to be a cause for concern both in the United States and around the world.
