A 28-year-old man from Telangana was killed by gunfire in the United States early Friday while delivering a pizza order to a residence in Philadelphia. Police said the order had been placed for an unoccupied unit, and relatives believe the victim was drawn into an ambush.
Anshul Kuncha, whose family resides in Gundlapochampally in Medchal-Malkajgiri district near Hyderabad, had moved to the US four years earlier for work, according to his sister Tanvi. He held a position at a multinational company and took weekend pizza delivery shifts for additional income.
Tanvi stated that her brother had not wished to relocate abroad but did so to meet family expectations. She described the killing as a warning to other families considering sending relatives to the US, noting that he had previously been robbed of a gold chain, phone and wallet.
US media reported that investigators determined the order was called in to a vacant apartment in a housing complex. Security footage showed Kuncha carrying the pizza and being trailed by two individuals in dark clothing with backpacks. Witnesses said masked assailants opened fire multiple times at his head after he arrived at the location.
The family said the attackers did not take any money and left the scene immediately. Kuncha’s parents, K Srinivas and Nilima, live in Gundlapochampally. The shooting occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m., and police found him dead at the scene after being alerted by passersby.
The family has asked the Indian consulate for help in returning the body to India quickly. The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences and confirmed it is assisting the relatives.
