Vijayawada: An Indian, Paruchuri Balagopal alias Bala was shot dead by unknown persons at a gas station at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina in the United States of America.

Balagopal, 41, a native of Chiturpu village of Ghantasala mandal of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh had moved to the USA 15 years ago after completing his education.

Balagopal, a student of Andhra Loyola College, was the son of P. Krishna Kumari and Balanageswara Rao, a retired supervisor in the R&B department.

It is suspected that a gang of robbers who came to burgle his gas station-cum-convenience store on Highway 905 in Longs, shot him dead at around 10.30 pm (IST) on Friday night.

The suspects robbed him and then shot him before decamping from the spot. Balagopal is married to Sowjanya and has two children, Chandu and Likitha.

A pal of gloom descended over Chiturpu village after news of his death. Balagopal’s parents, who live in Tadigadapa near Vijayawada, had returned from visiting their daughter in Arunachal Pradesh 15 days ago. Balagopal’s family and friends are trying to get his body to India and are talking to the officials concerned. “Happy new year to one and all,” was Balagopal’s last post on his Facebook page.