Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Indian Student at Texas Gas Station

The police in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, have arrested 23-year-old Richard Florez in connection with the murder of Chandrashekar Pole, a 28-year-old Indian student from Hyderabad, who was fatally shot while working a part-time shift at a gas station on Eastchase Parkway on October 3.

According to Fort Worth Police, Florez, a resident of North Richland Hills, allegedly shot Pole and fled the scene. Shortly after, he fired at another vehicle approximately a mile away, causing no injuries, and later crashed into a gate while attempting to enter a residence on Meadowbrook Drive. Officers apprehended him soon after and recovered a firearm from his vehicle.

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“He’s currently in the hospital but has been booked for the homicide,” said Officer Brad Perez, a Fort Worth Police spokesperson, in a statement to NBCDFW on Monday. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Pole’s identity and noted that he was pronounced dead at the scene. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

The Consulate General of India in Houston is coordinating with Pole’s family in Hyderabad to facilitate the repatriation of his remains. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to support these efforts and provide financial assistance to his grieving family.

Pole, who held a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from Hyderabad, moved to the United States two years ago to pursue a master’s degree, which he completed six months prior to the incident. His brother, Damodar Pole, told reporters that Chandrashekar was working part-time at the gas station while seeking full-time employment.

This incident follows other recent incidents involving Indian students in the U.S., including the January 2025 shooting of a 26-year-old student from Telangana in Connecticut and the death of another man from Ranga Reddy district found with bullet wounds. These events have intensified discussions about the safety of Indian students abroad and the challenges of repatriating remains.