Widow of Olathe shooting victim questions immigrant safety in the US

A week after the deadly shooting at Austin's Bar and Grill, members of the metro Indian community say they have concerns following the tragedy.

The deadly shooting, which took the life of Srinivas Kuchibhotla and injured two others, is now being investigated as a hate crime.

Indian dance instructor says Olathe shooting has led to her taking caution when doing errands at night pic.twitter.com/5sYzwBZoXT

— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) March 2, 2017

Samarpita Bajpai, an Indian dance instructor who has lived in the metro for around 20 years, told 41 Action News that she has taken precautions following last week's violence.

Related: FBI investigates Olathe bar shooting as hate crime

Bajpai said she stays away from certain neighborhoods to avoid danger, and is cautious when running errands at night.

"Right now, I'll probably not be confident and I'd probably ask my husband to come along," she explained. "When something like (last week's shooting) happens, it's probably wise to be a little cautious."

Bajpai believes the deadly shooting was an isolated incident, and the metro continues to be a safe place to live.

"I wouldn't say I'm scared, I'm just really badly shaken up," she said. "If I had to choose all over again, I would still choose Kansas City and call it home."

Former India Association of Kansas City president Vijay Ainapurapu said he continues to get calls from fellow people from India following the shooting.

He said the calls, texts and emails often regard questions concerning safety around Kansas City.

Ainapurapu told 41 Action News that his mother, who lives in India, has also grown increasingly concerned about him.

"She was thinking that we should just return home and dad was asking us if everything was okay," he said. "This hit us close to home and this is home. It's kind of disturbing on different levels."

Much like Bajpai, Ainapurapu doesn't think Indian Americans should be concerned to go out in the metro.

Olathe shooting: Indian Americans in metro say tragedy has led to concerns in community pic.twitter.com/vU6MXzWkUp

— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) March 2, 2017

"This is not what Kansas is all about or Overland Park," he explained. "This is middle of America. This doesn't happen on a daily basis."

Both Bajpai and Ainapurapu spoke highly of the support they've witnessed from neighbors and the community following last week's tragedy.

Story: President Trump condemns Olathe shooting

Bajpai told 41 Action News that the unity served as a sign of hope after heartbreak.

"It was just reconfirming the fact that we were not wrong as choosing this place as home," she said.

On Wednesday night, Ainapurapu planned to go with a group of friends to Austin's Bar & Grill.

He said doing so could serve as another sign of recovery after the deadly shooting.

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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.

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