US Indian Motel Manager killed after Fatal Punch

A US Indian man died after being punched in the face at a motel parking lot in Oklahoma.

The incident happened late on June 22, 2024, near Interstate 40 and Meridian Avenue.

Fifty-nine-year-old Hemant Shantilal Mistry was the motel manager and was originally from Gujarat.

He had confronted 41-year-old Richard Lewis, asking him to leave the property.

In response, Lewis punched Mr Mistry, knocking him unconscious.

Disturbing footage of the assault has circulated on social media.

Appearing to be taken from an eyewitness standing across the road from the motel’s car park.

It showed Mr Mistry, wearing a white T-shirt, engaged in a heated argument with Lewis.

The pair could be heard shouting at each other, with Lewis pacing around.

At one point, motel guests partially opened their curtains to hear the commotion.

Lewis grows increasingly hostile and squares up to Mr Mistry. He then punches the motel owner, who immediately falls to the floor.

Lewis continues to shout at the unconscious man before walking away.

The video ends with some women off-camera seeing Mr Mistry lying on the ground and screaming for help.

The police were alerted and officers arrived at the scene at around 10:00 pm, where they found Mr Mistry lying unconscious.

He was taken to a nearby hospital.

But despite medical efforts, Mr Mistry died of his injuries at 7:40 pm the following day.

In a statement, Oklahoma Police said:

“Police were summoned to a motel parking lot in reference to an assault.

“Officers arrived and learned 59-year-old Hemant Mistry was in the process of asking 41-year-old Richard Lewis to leave the property.

“While doing so, Lewis punched Mistry one time, knocking him unconscious.”

Lewis was apprehended a short while later at a hotel in the 1900 block of S Meridian Avenue.

He was taken into custody and is currently held at the Oklahoma County Jail on a $100,000 bond, facing charges of aggravated assault and battery.

Police have yet to determine the specific reasons behind Lewis’ refusal to vacate the premises but a thorough investigation has been launched.

Meanwhile, social media users were outraged by the incident.

Highlighting the spate of attacks on Indians in the US, one said:

“Most of these violent attacks are done by people of a particular race.

“And the left encourages them in such behaviour as they say it is ‘reparations’. The right also hates Indians and tells them that Indians are stealing their jobs. The good run for Indians in the US is over.”

Another wondered why the camera person did not intervene:

“Why didn’t the camera guy rush to the spot? It beats me maybe he/she was scared.

“Some amount of intervention to de-escalate these situations can be done in my view.”