Indian-American Woman Shot Dead, Parents Protest Against Gun Violence

A month after the death of their daughter who succumbed to gunshot injuries in the US, an elderly couple from Behala, West Bengal have been on the frontline of an online fundraising campaign against gun violence. They have raised over 11,000 dollars (9 lakh rupees) already.

The elderly couple Tapan and Sipra Karmakar who are in their 60s are staying with their elder daughter in Michigan.

Their younger daughter, 33-year-old Nabaruna Karmakar died in April after being shot twice. She had married Michael Aaron Matthews in Kolkata in December 2019. The couple settled in Morrisville, North Carolina.

On April 14, Matthews called the police and reported a possible double suicide. On their arrival, the cops found Nabaruna with two fatal gunshot wounds. Despite receiving a report of a double suicide, the police only found Nabaruna's body. They charged her husband Matthews with shooting his wife to death and arrested him.

Indian-American Woman Shot Dead

On April 17 Matthews appeared before a court where the judge ordered his imprisonment without bond for the time being. The motive behind the murder hasn't been determined yet. If convicted Matthews would face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Matthews was charged with first-degree murder and awaits his next trial at the end of the month.

Tapan revealed that the hunting gun used in the crime was a recent gift kept as a decorative item at his daughter’s house. After Nabaruna’s tragic death, her coworkers started a GoFundMe page to help her family raise money to end gun violence.

The 9 lakh rupees they’ve raised so far is just the beginning. It’s not just about their daughter for this grieving couple. They are determined to contribute to ending gun violence.

Nabaruna was an active member of her community. She was attached to her Indian roots. As per reports, on the day she was killed, she was preparing for a Bengali New Year party with her friends. A few weeks back she hosted a Holi party.

Nabaruna had graduated with a Master's degree from Manipal University and obtained a PhD in industrial engineering from North Carolina State University. She worked at SAS Institute as a senior operations research specialist.

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