Vamshi Reddy Mamidala, 27, was shot and killed on February 10, 2017, in the parking garage of the Ilara Apartments in Milpitas, California. He had recently completed a master’s degree from Silicon Valley University and was returning from a part-time job at about 10:45 p.m. when he encountered a carjacker.

The assailant, identified as Stuart Ison Baronngaue, 30, had crashed a car nearby, fled on foot, and tried to steal a vehicle at gunpoint from a woman in the garage. Mamidala handed over his keys and wallet but was shot in the left eye and then run over by his own car as the suspect fled. Responding officers pronounced Mamidala dead at the scene. Baronngaue was captured a short distance away and booked on multiple charges including murder, robbery and felony evasion; he also had an outstanding warrant.

Some commentators raised the possibility of a hate crime, though the reported primary motive was robbery. Mamidala’s family in India was left devastated; they had expected him to return home to find work. If anyone knew Vamshi or was in the Ilara Apartments area that night, please share any information that could help clarify what happened.