The suspect in a Wednesday-night triple shooting that left one person dead has been identified as 51-year-old Adam Purinton of Olathe, Kan. Purinton allegedly told a bartender in Clinton, Mo., that he had killed two Middle Eastern men before he was arrested about five hours after the shooting, authorities said.
According to the Kansas City Star, Purinton also told the Clinton bartender that he needed a place to hide out. That bartender called police, leading them to the suspect, who had fled the scene of the shooting at Austins Bar and Grill in Olathe.
Assistant Clinton Police Chief Sonny Lynch said that Purinton was not armed when he was arrested.
At least one witness to the shooting told authorities the suspect yelled, “Get out of my country,” shortly before shooting men he apparently thought were Middle Eastern. Those men have since been identified as engineers at Garmin, who, according to the Star, appear to originally be from India.
Purinton, a Navy veteran, was booked in the Henry County, Mo., jail and appeared before a judge Thursday afternoon, when he waived his right to fight extradition. It was not immediately clear when he will be in Johnson County, Kan.
In an email, Garmin officials identified the employees targeted in the shooting as Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani. Kuchibhotla did not survive.
“Unfortunately, two associates on our Aviation Systems Engineering team, Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani, were shot. We are devastated to inform you that Srinivas passed away and Alok is currently recovering in the hospital,” Garmin said in the email, according to the Star.
In a public statement the company added, “We’re saddened that two Garmin associates were involved in last night’s incident, and we express our condolences to the family and friends of our co-workers involved. Garmin will have grievance counselors on-site and available for its associates today and tomorrow.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for both men and raised more than $7,000 toward its $10,000 goal in just two hours.
Meanwhile, the third victim was identified as Ian Grillot, who was shot in the hand and shoulder. According to the Star, witnesses said he stood up to the shooter and tried to stop Purinton when he was shot. Another GoFundMe campaign was set up on his behalf and raised more than $38,000 of its $50,000 goal in six hours.
Read more at the Kansas City Star.