Late on Friday night, a man walked into the store and opened fire at Gopikrisha, who was behind the counter. The man stole some cash and other items and left. The incident was caught on CCTV camera.

“He had gone to the US to find work so that his family can have a better life here… We cannot comprehend how his life has been snuffed out in cold blood,” said 54-year-old D Srinivas, who had sold his one-acre field to fund his son’s travel to the US.

Gopikrishna got married three years ago and had a one-year-old son.

“He wanted to settle down and do well so that he could provide a better life for his wife and son,” Srinivas said.

Gopikrishna had completed his BTech from Bapatla Engineering College seven years ago. He had been working as a software engineer for a Hyderabad-based company before heading to the US.

“His friends in the US, especially two of them living in Texas, had advised him not to go now as the employment scenario was not good there. They had said that they would tell him when the situation was better, but he decided to go anyway,” said G Suresh, a childhood friend and neighbour.

“His wife is also a BTech graduate. He thought that once he finds suitable employment, she can also join him, and the both of them can work there and enjoy a better life,” Suresh said.

“His wife would go to the temple daily to pray that he find a suitable job. He was happy when he found work at the convenience store. He used to call me every week and say something was better than nothing, and that he would soon find a better job,” Suresh added.

After getting shot late on Friday night, he was rushed to the hospital, but died 10 hours later.

Some members of his family had even seen the video of the shooting on social media without realising it was him.