Patel is the fifth Indian American, or Indian national killed in the United States since mid-February.
A 56-year-old Indian American man was killed after getting caught in crossfire outside a motel in the Memphis metropolitan area in Tennessee, on Monday night.
Khandu Patel, who was a housekeeper at the Best Value Inn, was gunned down at the balcony of his second floor room during a dinner break, the local Fox affiliate reported.
The victim was staying temporarily at the motel, along with his wife and son, according to Fox13.
The shootout occurred around 7:30 pm on Monday.
“He finished his days’ work and was out walking around the property,” Jay Patel, the victim’s nephew, told the channel. “Next thing you know he hears some gunshots flying around and one caught him in the chest.”
Khandu Patel, who was shot in the chest, died before he was taken to the hospital.
Jay Patel said his uncle was preparing to move out of Whitehaven to the nearby Southaven in Mississippi for another job after a week.
According to police, there were witnesses that know who killed Patel, but they were not cooperating.
The suspects reportedly sped off in a Nissan Altima or Maxima.
The local NBC affiliate WMCA quoted police as saying that the target of the shootout was someone who was staying at the hotel.
There were about 30 gun shots, an elderly lady told the network.
Police are offering reward for those providing information on the killers of Patel.
Patel is the fifth Indian American, or Indian national killed in the United States since mid-February.
On February 22, Indian software engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead in Olathe, Kansas, by a white nationalist.
Harnish Patel, a 43-year-old Indian American store owner, was shot dead by an unknown assailant outside his home in Lancaster, South Carolina, in early March.
On March 23, Sasikala Narra (38) and her son Anish Narra (6) were found dead inside their apartment in Maple Shade, NJ.
So far only Kuchibhotla’s killer has been arrested.
RELATED:
Indian American engineer shot dead in Olathe, Kansas, in apparent hate crime (February 23, 2017)
Indian American store owner shot dead outside his home in Lancaster, South Carolina (March 4, 2017)
New Jersey double murder of Indian Americans not a hate crime: police (March 24, 2017)