AUSTIN (Diya TV) — Gundam Sankirth, a 24-year-old Indian student from Hyderabad who was earning his master’s degree in computer science at the University of New Haven, was stabbed to death by his roommate, police said Monday.
Sai Sandeep Goud Kurremula, a 27-year-old also from Hyderabad, was arrested for the crime. He moved in with Sankirth just two weeks ago.
According to his family, Sankirth came to the U.S. two years ago on a F1 visa as a student and had recently received H-1B visa through a lottery draw system.
An additional person who was in the room when the stabbing took place named Praneeth told police that Sankirth and Kurremula had a heated argument shortly before the former was killed. Praneeth told police he rushed toward the door after hearing screams to find Sankirth lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood. He also said that Kurremula was drunk when he attacked Sankirth.
Kurremula stabbed him in the abdomen, police said.
Left, 27-year-old Sai Sandeep Goud Kurremula booked with first degree murder by the police and right, deceased Gundam Sankirth.
When authorities arrived on scene, they found Kurremula trying to load Sankirth into a car with the help of another person. Police assisted in transporting Sankirth to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
“We got a call on Tuesday morning from one of our relatives, who was informed about Sankirth’s death by his roommate Praneeth. Our relatives are trying to finish the formalities fast and bring back the body as soon as possible,” A Venkat Rao, Sankirth’s uncle, said.
Both Kurremula, who has been charged with first degree murder, and his accomplice, who is yet to be identified, have been placed under arrest. A motive for the crime is yet to be established.
