HOUSTON: The 24 year old American who intervened on the fatal night when Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla lost his life, Ian Grillot has been felicitated by the Indian-American community in Houston. Jiten Agarwal, Chair of India House Houston's annual gala, was all praise for the young man as could be seen from his statement posted on Facebook.
“It is not every day that one meets a genuine hero, a person who risks his life for another, and takes a bullet for a complete stranger. Ian Grillot is a man who reminds us of the promise of America and its greatness,” he said. In the statement, India House, on behalf of the entire Indian-American community in Houston, recognised his act and extended gratitude by helping him buy a house with a $1,00,000 cheque.
Charlie Yalamanchili, a prominent Houstonian of Indian origin, proposed the house purchase, and offered to match every dollar raised by India House for this cause. With such generous support from Yalamanchili, India House raised $100,000 that will help Ian buy a house in his hometown in Kansas. This initiative was strongly encouraged and supported by the Consul General of India in Houston, Dr. Anupam Ray, according to the statement.
Kuchibhotla was shot dead on February 22 in Kansas in an alleged racial attack, after the gunman, Adam Purinton, 51 who is a Navy veteran was heard shouting "get out of my country". The incident also left two others injured, including Grillot who stood up to the adversity.
