Akshay Gupta, a 30-year-old Indian American entrepreneur was fatally stabbed while aboard a CapMetro bus in Austin, Texas. 31-year-old Deepak Kandel, who is also of Indian origin, was arrested for the attack, and charged with first degree murder.
According to the Austin Police Department, Gupta was attacked without warning while riding the bus through South Austin. Kandel, who was seated next to Gupta, suddenly stabbed him in the neck. Emergency responders arrived swiftly following a 911 call reporting a stabbing, but despite efforts to save him, Gupta was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. on the scene.
READ: In shareholder letter, Satya Nadella touts Microsoft’s record AI growth, expands future vision (October 24, 2024)
Authorities claim Gupta and Kandel had no prior interaction. While Kandel — who is reportedly homeless — claimed he stabbed Gupta because he “looked like his uncle,” no definitive motive has been established. This killing has sparked discussions on safety in public transport, as well as mental health support for the homeless in Austin, Texas.
Gupta was the co-founder at Foodbit, a startup to help the elderly live independently and safely. He had reportedly turned down a job offer worth $300,000 at Amazon to pursue this startup, and got an O1-A visa from the U.S., which is only awarded to individuals with extraordinary contributions in the field of science. His family also revealed that his innovations got noticed by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and he was personally invited to visit him.
Jasmine, a friend of Gupta’s from Penn State University said looking at his body at the funeral house was the “most gut-wrenching” experience in her life. “He was super intelligent and hardworking,” she said. “He didn’t just believe in what he was building. He believed in America. America was a dreamland and he was more American than anyone,” she said.
Gupta’s family revealed that he had recently moved from Florida to Austin as he believed Austin was the best place to launch his startup. A memorial service is being planned in Austin to honor his life and legacy.