Mehsana: A Gujarat-origin woman, who had been working at a supermarket in Virginia for the last 10 years, was shot dead in the United States during a suspected robbery attempt.

The victim, 45-year-old Meghna Patel, was a native of Jantral village in Visnagar taluka of Gujarat’s Mehsana district. Family members said she had been employed at the Virginia-based supermarket for the past decade.

According to preliminary information, an unidentified man allegedly entered the store and opened fire on Meghna Patel, leaving her critically injured. She later succumbed to her injuries.

Gujarati Woman Shot Dead in America; CCTV Footage of Incident Surfaceshttps://t.co/HlMoAa1hWD pic.twitter.com/GKQH6s7pEK

— DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) May 26, 2026

CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced. The video reportedly shows a man entering the store posing as a customer. He was seen wearing a tracksuit, jacket, gloves, a face mask and a hat.

The footage further suggests that the suspect briefly interacted with Meghna Patel before allegedly opening fire within seconds. He was later seen taking an item from a table before fleeing the scene.

Preliminary findings indicate that the shooting may have been carried out with the intent to commit robbery. Authorities have launched an investigation, and further details are awaited.

The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of Gujaratis living and working abroad, particularly in the United States. A large number of Gujaratis are engaged in businesses such as gas stations, convenience stores and motels, many of which operate late into the night and are often considered vulnerable to robbery-related crimes.

Over the past five years, several incidents involving shootings and violent attacks targeting Gujaratis, including store owners, motel operators and young professionals, have been reported from states such as Texas, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Georgia, intensifying concerns within the community. DeshGujarat