A tragic incident occurred last week in Oklahoma, US, where a 59-year-old Indian-American man, Hemant Shantilal Mistry, died after being punched in the face at a motel parking lot. The incident took place late Saturday night on June 22, near Interstate 40 and Meridian Avenue, according to police reports.
Hemant Shantilal Mistry, originally from Gujarat and a motel manager, confronted 41-year-old Richard Lewis, asking him to leave the property. The confrontation escalated quickly, resulting in Lewis reportedly punching Mistry in the face.
A video of the assault has gone viral on social media, capturing the heated exchange between Mistry, wearing a white t-shirt, and Lewis, in a sky blue t-shirt.
The argument rapidly intensified, leading to Lewis delivering a punch that caused Mistry to collapse to the ground while Lewis walked away.
Also Read: Indian student goes missing in USA; was last seen in Los Angeles, say police
Police responded to the scene around 10:00 pm and found Mistry unconscious. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries at 7:40 pm the following day despite medical efforts.
Richard Lewis was apprehended shortly after the incident at a hotel located in the 1900 block of S. Meridian Avenue. He is currently held at the Oklahoma County Jail on a $100,000 bond, facing charges of aggravated assault and battery.
Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the specific reasons behind Lewis’s refusal to vacate the premises and any other underlying factors contributing to the tragic event.
