WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A 19-year-old Indian-origin teen accused of deliberately crashing a rented U-Haul truck into a White House barrier told authorities that he wanted to get inside the mansion to “seize power” and “kill” US President Joe Biden, according to media reports.
US Park Police arrested Sai Varshith Kandula after he crashed the truck into the security barriers on the north side of Lafayette Park shortly before 10 pm on Monday, May 22, sending multiple pedestrians running from the scene, media reported.
The crash was a good distance from the White House gates, but the incident prompted road and sidewalk closures, and the nearby Hay-Adams hotel had to be evacuated. No one was injured in the crash.
Kandula, of Chesterfield, Missouri, rented the truck on Monday night immediately after flying from St Louis to Dulles International Airport on a one-way ticket, a Secret Service agent said in a statement of facts filed in federal district court in Washington DC, media reported. He drove the vehicle onto a sidewalk outside the White House and into a metal barrier just north of the White House, according to the document.
Kandula put the truck in reverse and crashed into the barrier a second time before United States Park Police officers took him into custody, according to the document. Kandula told authorities he had been planning the attack for six months and detailed the plans in a “green book,” the document says.
He “stated his goal was to ‘get into the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation,’” the document states.
“When agents asked how he would seize power, Kandula stated he would ‘kill the President if that’s what I have to do and would hurt anyone that would stand in my way.’” The document was included with a criminal complaint charging Kandula with depredation of property of the United States over USD 1,000, the news report said.
When Secret Service agents asked Kandula about a flag with a swastika he removed from a backpack, he allegedly said he’d bought it online because Nazis “have a great history,” according to the court document.
He allegedly said he “admires their ‘authoritarian nature, Eugenics, and their one world order,’” according to the document. Kandula identified Hitler as a “strong leader” he admires, the report said.
In the St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield, where Kandula lives, FBI agents were seen entering and leaving his home Tuesday and acquaintances struggled to link the alleged attack with the “chill” teen they know.
Police in Chesterfield have no records of any interaction with Kandula or calls for service to the family home, Capt Daniel Dunn, Commander for the City of Chesterfield’s Bureau of Criminal Investigations, said.
Dunn said that federal agents are in charge of the investigation.
Errion Barfield, who was on the Marquette High School track team with Kandula, remembered him as quiet and unassuming. “He was nice and chill,” Barfield said in a Facebook message to the media. “Ain’t ever expected him to do something like that.” Kandula was a member of the sizable South Asian population of Chesterfield, a middle-class suburb about 32 kilometers west of St. Louis. Pranav Nagila, who was a year ahead of Kandula, said he couldn’t make sense of his one-time schoolmate possibly having a Nazi flag in his possession.
“I didn’t see him as off-putting or anything like that,” said Nagila, who just finished his sophomore year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “He just seemed like a chill person.” Kandula appeared in Washington DC Superior Court on Tuesday and is expected to make an initial appearance in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
A friend of Kandula told the media that he’s worried about his state of mind.
The former classmate, who attended school with Kandula said, “I feel like something … either has gone badly internally inside him or maybe between the family.” Kandula was “the quiet kid” who enjoyed tennis, according to Aniket Sharma.
“He was never open to talking. And anytime I tried, he, it was just only small talk – never really anything deep. I always thought he was like a quiet, shy kid,” Sharma said.
Sharma, now a Missouri college student, rejected the notion Kandula was a white supremacist or a neo-Nazi.
Sharma spent years living in the same Chesterfield apartment complex as Kandula and his family.
Speaking about those discussing his former friend on Twitter, Sharma said they had “never even met him.” In addition to the Nazi flag, investigators recovered duct tape, a backpack and a notebook filled with writing from inside the vehicle, media reported. Investigators are probing whether mental health played a role.
Tag: Indian-Origin
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Indian-origin teen is arrested after he crashes truck into a White House barrier
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Indian-origin NYPD officer receives Medal of Valor
NEW YORK (TIP): A 27-year-old Indian-origin New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and nine others were honored by US President Joe Biden with the Medal of Valor, the country’s highest award for public safety officers. Sumit Sulan was honored at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, May 17, for shooting a convicted felon who killed two of his colleagues when the trio were investigating a domestic-violence call in New York City in January. According to the police, three policemen — Sulan, Jason Rivera, 22, and Wilbert Mora, 27, visited the Harlem neighborhood in New York to investigate a 911 call from a distressed woman whose grown-up son threatened her and his brother.The convicted felon ambushed the three officers, shooting at Rivera and Mora, who later died of their injuries. Sulan was praised by the US president at the May 17 ceremony for swiftly jumping into action, despite being a rookie with the NYPD at that time.
“Detective Sulan had only been then — with the precinct — the 32nd Precinct, for two months… He shielded the mother and brother from gunfire, then drew his weapon to fire twice, hitting the gunman and ending the incident,” Biden was quoted as saying in a White House press release. Sulan “ensured the safety of the civilians on the scene and struck down the gunman with his service weapon, bringing an end to the deadly episode just 45 seconds after it had begun,” Biden, who met Sulan shortly after the incident, said.
“..The entire nation is grateful for the quick thinking, swift action, and courage under fire that he demonstrated,” Biden said, adding that the officers’ poise and valor saved lives.
“He did a great job,” Sulan’s mother said of her son, who emigrated from India about 15 years ago, while a law-enforcement source described him as a “super rookie” after the incident.
The Medal of Valor is given for actions above and beyond the call of duty and exhibiting exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, presence of mind, and unusual swiftness in action, regardless of his or her (officer’s) personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life, according to the press release. -
Indian American high schooler Sirihaasa Nallamothu wins top computer science award
NORMAL, IL (TIP): An Indian American and three others have been selected among a pool of graduating high school seniors as a recipient of the Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing that empowers students to pursue computing challenges beyond the traditional classroom environment.
Sirihaasa Nallamothu of University High School in Normal, Illinois, will receive a $10,000 cash prize for her project that was selected by a panel of judges based on ingenuity, complexity, relevancy and originality.
Her project engages modern technology and computer science to address the research gap to predict Vasovagal Syncope — a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure leading to fainting — in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Inspired from a TikTok that led her down a rabbit hole about POTS, Sirihaasa found to her surprise there were no research studies or consumer solutions to predict syncope on real-world data.
Sirihaasa is the first person to conduct an Institutional Review Board research study and collect human subject field data on POTS patients in the real world using non-invasive technologies, according to a news release.
She wrote a Python script to extract the 15-minute window signal data of heart rate, blood volumetric pressure, EDA, temperature, and accelerometer data, the release added.
The high schooler also founded a Girls Who Code club at her Middle school, developed and taught coding curriculum/activities, managed grants/funding, and networked and planned events.
After completing her research, Sirihaasa plans to work toward creating a consumer product and pairing her algorithm with a smart watch.
The Cutler-Bell Prize promotes the field of computer science and empowers students to pursue computing challenges beyond the traditional classroom environment.
In 2015, David Cutler and Gordon Bell established the award.
Cutler is a software engineer, designer, and developer of several operating systems at Digital Equipment Corporation. Bell, an electrical engineer, is Researcher Emeritus at Microsoft Research.
This year’s Cutler-Bell Prize recipients will be formally recognized at the Computer Science Teachers Association’s 2023 Virtual Conference, July 11-13. -
OFBJP gets ready to welcome PM Modi with unity march in 20 cities on June 18
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in June, OFBJP is planning to welcome him with an ‘India Unity Day’ march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organizers have announced. Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.
“The (Indian American) community is really excited (about Modi’s visit). The community is gathering on June 18 here in Washington DC at the National Monument. And there will be a march from Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial, calling it ‘India Unity Day’ and welcoming Modiji. That is two days in advance,” said community leader Adapa Prasad, who is also the national president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), USA.
Also at the same time, in about 20 places across the United States, “from east to west, from north to south, covering major cities” there will be similar welcome marches at iconic places like Times Square in New York and Golden Bridge in San Francisco, he said on Sunday.
The other cities are Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, Columbus, and St Louis. -
Indian-origin Singaporean climber missing Search under way around Mount Everest Summit
SINGAPORE (TIP): A search and rescue operation involving several teams is under way around the Mount Everest Summit to trace an Indian-origin Singaporean climber who has been missing since Saturday, May 20.
Teams consisting of three Sherpas each have been searching for Shrinivas Sainis Dattatraya (39), according to Prakash Chandra Devkota, the owner of Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition.
Seven Summit Treks, a Nepal-based adventure travel operator, had organized Dattatraya’s Everest ascent.
Devkota also shared photographs of the climber reaching the summit last Friday before he went missing, media reported on Tuesday. In the photos, Dattatraya, a senior manager for software engineering at real estate tech firm JLL Technologies, is seen wearing a bright orange winter wear, sunglasses and an oxygen mask. He is surrounded by colorful prayer flags marking the 8,849 m summit.
He is clutching a rope with his right hand and stands upright on the peak.
In another picture, the climber lies on his back and is surrounded by three others in similar mountain climbing wear. One of them snaps a shot of him with a smartphone.
He last sent a text message to his wife Sushma Soma, 36, on Friday, saying he had reached Everest’s summit. He told her he had high-altitude cerebral oedema — a severe high-altitude illness that could prove fatal — and was not likely to make it back down, according to the media report.
Soma, a musician, learnt at 2 am on Saturday that the two Sherpas he was with, and another climber in the group, made it down from the mountain, but her husband never did.
Devkota said one of the Sherpas, Dendi, had tried to save Dattatraya, but he did not give more details. He added that Dendi had suffered frostbite to his fingers and was hospitalized. -
Indian-origin Sikh councilor Jaswant Singh Birdi becomes 1st turban-wearing Lord Mayor of UK’s Coventry
LONDON (TIP): An Indian-origin Sikh councilor has made history after being appointed as the new Lord Mayor of Coventry, a city in the West Midlands, England.
As a Lord Mayor, Punjab-born Jaswant Singh Birdi will be the Chairman of the City Council, and as Coventry’s first citizen, he will be the non-political, ceremonial head of the city.
“I am so proud to become Lord Mayor of my adopted home city. It has given so much to myself and my family over the years and I will be honored to show why I love it so much and to promote the city and the wonderful people who live here,” Birdi said in a statement.
Birdi was presented with the Chains of Office, worn as an official regalia by the Mayor, at an annual general meeting of Coventry Cathedral last week.
“As a Sikh, it also means so much that I will be wearing the Chains of Office and the turban. It will help show what a happy multi-cultural city we have and maybe inspire others as well,” he said.
Born in Punjab, Birdi moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has spent 17 years as a councilor in the city, representing Bablake Ward for the past nine years, following two terms of office in the 1990s in the Hillfields Ward. After having served as Deputy Lord Mayor for the past 12 months, he succeeds Councilor Kevin Maton in the role. He grew up in a village in the Indian part of Punjab and also spent time as a child in Lahore and West Bengal, as his family travelled for employment.
In the mid-1950s Birdi emigrated with his parents to Kenya in East Africa, where he had his primary and secondary education, and emigrated to the UK in the 60s to carry on with his further education.
Apart from being a councilor, he has been actively involved in setting up religious, social and community projects in the city.
He has named his chosen charities for the year as the Muscular Dystrophy charity, the Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind, and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity. -
First Indian-origin Lord Mayor, Councilor Sameer Pandey elected in Australia’s Parramatta City Council
MELBOURNE (TIP): The City of Parramatta Council in Sydney on Monday, May 22, elected Indian-origin Councilor Sameer Pandey as its new Lord Mayor. Pandey’s election to the post coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Sydney on Monday for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Australian counterpart. Pandey was first elected to the council in 2017 and in 2022, became the City’s first Deputy Lord Mayor from the Indian subcontinent, an official statement said.
Pandey was elected as Donna Davis stepped down from the role following her election as the State Member for Parramatta in Australia’s New South Wales state.
Asserting that it was a privilege to lead the council of one of the fastest-growing centers in Australia, Pandey said, “The City of Parramatta is the geographical heart of Greater Sydney and a major economic powerhouse as well as the best place in Sydney to live.” “Parramatta is home to a vibrant and diverse community, and I’m excited to lead the City as it cements itself as Sydney’s second CBD (central business district) and the focus of some of its most exciting opportunities,” he was quoted as saying in the press release. A small business owner with a background in IT, Pandey “is passionate about ensuring the council delivers what community and local businesses need and positioning the City of Parramatta as a smart city,” the press release said. -
15 Punjabi-origin in fray for Alberta provincial elections in Canada
TORONTO (TIP): As many as 15 candidates of Punjab origin are in the fray for the Alberta provincial elections in Canada for which the polling is scheduled to be held on May 29 for all 87 constituencies.
The two major political outfits — National Democratic Party (NDP) and United Conservative Party of Alberta (UCP) — are not only banking heavily on South Asians and Punjabis in particular, they have also given “adequate representation” to their communities by fielding them. Punjabis are mostly contesting in Calgary and Edmonton area seats. The major Punjabi candidates who are contesting the polls are Rajan Sawhney (Cabinet Minister for Trade, Immigration and Multiculturism), contesting from Calgary North-West on a UCP ticket, MLA Devinder Toor, seeking re-election on a UCP ticket from Calgary-Falconridge and MLA Jasvir Deol, contesting from Edmonton Meadows on an NDP ticket. In 2019, Sawhney had won from Calgary North-East riding and earlier this year, she had announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election from here, but after the UCP Environment Minister and sitting Calgary Northwest candidate Sonya Savage announced retirement from politics, UCP announced Sawhney as a candidate.
Sawhney has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Calgary, besides an MBA. Prior to her political stint, she worked in the oil and gas industry for over 20 years. Rajan Sawhney said, “I will work hard every day to see Calgary North-West move forward with growth, prosperity & a more affordable Alberta because we can’t afford to go back to decline, high taxes & the failed policies of the NDP.”
The UCP has also fielded Amanpreet Singh Gill from Calgary-Bhullar-Mccall, Inder Grewal from Calgary North-East, R Singh Bath from Edmonton Ellerslie, Amritpal Singh Matharu from Edmonton Meadows and Raman Athwal from Edmonton Mill Woods. Other Punjabi candidates fielded by the NDP are Gurinder Singh Gill from Calgary-Cross, Parmeet Singh Boparai from Calgary-Falconridge, Gurinder Brar from Calgary North-East, Harry Singh from Drayton Valley-Devon. Aman Sandhu is contesting on a Green Party of Alberta (GPA) ticket from Calgary-Cross, Jeewan Mangat on Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (WIPA) from Innisfail-Sylvan Lake and Braham Luddu on Alberta Party (AP) from Lethbridge-West. -
British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney among winners of UK’s Icon Awards
LONDON (TIP): British Sikh entrepreneur Navjot Sawhney, founder of the Washing Machine Project providing low-income communities with accessible and sustainable washing solutions, is among 14 winners of the annual 21st Century Icon Awards in London. Sawhney won the Sustainability Rising Star Award for the Washing Machine Project and received the trophy at a ceremony on Friday from Ibukun Adebayo, Group Director, Sustainable Finance and Investment Strategy, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).
His eco-friendly hand-cranked Washing Machine Project benefits families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries and refugee camps.
“Since its creation in 2021, they have positively impacted the lives of over 30,000 people,” read the citation for the project, which has won several awards, including the British Prime Minister’s Points of Light award in the past.
CA Bhavani Devi, the first Indian woman fencer to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games, was awarded the Competitive Sports Award, and Indian-origin entrepreneurs Ashok Duppati and Dheeraj Siripurapu bagged the Relentlessly Resolute Award for their efforts behind several market beating businesses over the last 20 years.
“We are absolutely delighted to celebrate and recognize these outstanding global icons,” said Tarun Ghulati and Preeti Rana of Squared Watermelon Limited, co-founders of the awards, now in their seventh year.
“We created these awards to showcase the young leaders who, through their tenacity, grit and hard work, have become the beacons of change, inspiring others and are on the front seat of innovation,” they said.
Around 200 business leaders, celebrities, and sports and community champions gathered for the awards ceremony last week, for which the 14 winners were whittled down from 45 finalists and around 600 submissions from around the world. The judging panel was made up of a diverse range of experts, including former Lord Mayor of London Vincent Keaveny and peers from the House of Lords.
Among other winners on the evening included the Specialist Professional Award for tech firm Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S and the Savvy Luxury Award for Dr Tara Lalvani, founder of beauty brand Beautifect.
The 21st Century Icon Awards were launched in 2017 by Squared Watermelon Ltd as a means to celebrate success and draw attention to the work of exceptional entrepreneurs, philanthropists, tech professionals, and sports and media personalities on a global stage. -
Indian media in America faces challenges and opportunities
Publishers and editors reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.
By Parveen Chopra
Founder, ALotusInTheMud.com
Founding Editor, The South Asian TimesIn 2020, India Abroad, known as the gold standard in ethnic newspapers in America, closed operations after 50 years in circulation. In 2022 New India Abroad was started by a different team.
That tells you the story of Indian media in America. Down and up. Resilience and renewal. Learning and adapting.
The downturn for all journalism – not just Indian ethnic media – has been caused by the ever-growing digital revolution. The 2008 economic meltdown was bad for the media too. Covid years were worse. Now, social media is the new villain in the journalism story. Many storied newspapers in the US have closed or curtailed operations.
Indian ethnic media has been more vulnerable because of a lack of promoters with deep pockets for sustaining operations and a dearth of committed journalists doing quality work to keep readers engaged. Surprisingly, the big media houses from India have not ventured here.
The need for quality journalism to serve the Indian community is greater than ever. For one, the community is growing – their numbers increased from about 3 million in 2010 to more than 4.5 million as per the 2020 census. Indian Americans make headlines as achievers in the US media and are referred to as a model minority.
But being new immigrants, the community cannot let its guard down. Knowledge is power. It is the job of community media to bring to the notice of their readers issues that need collective action. And, becoming their voice, take their issues to officials and lawmakers concerned. For example, they need to keep hammering the US Congress to resolve the monstrous green card backlog for Indians.
A new, combustible case is Washington state passing a law (now under consideration in California) banning discrimination based on caste, a practice allegedly extended here from India. Some Hindu groups condemned the move as anti-Indian. The community papers should be explaining the implications of the bill and build a consensus – for or against.
Surely, all regions of the US with large Indian populations have community newspapers. But most of them have mainly ended up as aggregators compiling news and features available freely. In contrast, New York-based India Abroad once spawned editions in other diaspora countries and a news agency.
India Abroad, under publisher Gopal Raju, even made press freedom history. They published a story linking megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan, to kickbacks in a defense deal. Ajitabh sued in London and won 40,000-pound damages in 1990. Raju fought the enforcement at home. US legacy media including The New York Times filed briefs in Raju’s support. Raju won.
Unfortunately, declining ad revenue while honor-bound to keep printing copies to serve its 20,000+ paid subscribers made the paper a hot potato eventually.
One contemporary of India Abroad was India West, a paper with big circulation on the West Coast. Its aging owners, Bina and Ramesh Murarka, shut it down when Covid struck.
Today, a new opportunity has arisen for the Indian media. With the greater visibility of South Asians in many spheres of American life, it is time to tell their story to the mainstream. But to achieve that you need some gumption and broader vision. Indian Americans are well-educated and high earners. Rightly leveraged, this market can support a vibrant media.
So, what is blocking that from happening, and what is the way forward? Publishers and editors responded to reveal how they have been coping and the business strategies they have adopted.Business models in the mix
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Indo-Canadian candidates in race for Toronto’s Mayoral elections
TORONTO (TIP): A handful of Indo-Canadians are among 102 candidates in fray for the Toronto mayoral election to be held for the remaining city council term of 2022-2026 following Mayor John Tory’s resignation early this year. The candidates for the June 26 by-election were certified by Toronto City Clerk John D. Elvidge.
Born to Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Bermudian parents, Knia Singh has run for political office municipally, provincially and federally, most notably running for Mayor in the 2018 and 2022 Municipal elections.
Singh received the community service award from the Jamaican Canadian Association in 2016 and was named the Toronto Star person to watch for 2014.
He co-founded the Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice, which was instrumental in challenging carding and arbitrary detention across police services in Ontario.
“I seek to be the representative of our city as someone who has lived through various stages of life experience, and who can relate and identify with the needs of all people, from those trying to find their next meal, to those looking to invest in an economic venture,” Singh said in his campaign statement.
Sandeep Srivastava, who came to Toronto from India as a teenager, ran unsuccessfully in the last municipal election. As a Mayor, Srivastava says he hopes to build a more sustainable and cost-efficient community.
“I want to build Toronto Smart City based on my local municipal experience, knowledge, skills, and strengths. I put forward a plan to make sure that we’re bringing Business and Technology jobs back to Toronto by rewarding companies and small businesses,” he said in his campaign statement.
Habiba Desai and Partap Singh Dua are among other candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring.
Desai most recently ran in the 2022 municipal election in Scarborough-Guildwood for a Councilor position and gained over 1000 votes. With 102, a record-high number of candidates have ever registered for Mayor of the amalgamated City of Toronto, surpassing the previous record of 65 candidates in the 2014 municipal election, a release by City of Toronto stated.
There were 31 certified candidates for Mayor of Toronto in the 2022 municipal election.
The city said advance voting days for the election will run from June 8 to June 13 with the election day set on June 26. The Mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government. He is elected alongside the city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October.
However, this time the by-election was called after Toronto’s long-time Mayor John Tory resigned on February 17 following reports of an affair with a staffer. Nominations for the mayoral election closed on May 12. -
Indian-origin techie run over by a car in Florida
TAMPA, FL (TIP): Mariappan Subramanian, a 32-year-old Indian employee of HCL Technologies, died on the spot after being hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing in Tampa Florida.
Subramanian, who worked as a Test Lead with HCL Technologies, was hit by a car around 7:30 pm EST on Monday, May 15, at a pedestrian crossing in Hillsborough County.
“Though Mari had the right of the way, the car driver apparently, jumped the red light from what we came to know,” a GoFundMe page started by his friends said.
Subramanian is survived by his wife and their four-year-old son who are living in India. He had recently relocated from Jacksonville to Tampa. “We are initiating this fundraiser on behalf of Mrs. Mariappan and seeking your generous support,” the fund organizers said assuring “Your contributions will entirely go to the surviving family. We hope that this will make a positive difference in their future.”
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that our dear friend and colleague Mariappan Subramanian died in a tragic road accident in Hillsborough County, Tampa, FL,” Anand Ramachandran from Fairfield Connecticut said on the fundraiser page. “The incident happened on Monday 15 May 2023 around 7:30 pm EST. He was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing. Though Mari had the right of the way, the car driver apparently, jumped the red light from what we came to know.
“Mariappan was 32 and is survived by his wife Krishnu and their 4-year-old son Rithvik who are living in India. Mariappan recently relocated from Jacksonville to Tampa. “We are initiating this fundraiser on behalf of Mrs. Mariappan and seeking your generous support. Your contributions will entirely go to the surviving family. We hope that this will make a positive difference in their future. “Besides that, we are working with the local community groups in Tampa and Jacksonville to send the mortal remains to Mariappan’s family in India.” -
Indian Americans favor laws to check gun violence- Study shows
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Last month, a young 33-year-old Indian American engineer was shot by her husband in their house in North Carolina. Nabaruna Karmakar was found dead with two gunshot wounds when the officers arrived at the couple’s home. The police arrested her husband, Michael Aron.
Just earlier this month, the tragic mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, a suburb near Dallas, Texas left a young Indian professional dead and another injured.
Earlier this year in January, another Indian American Pinal Patel was shot and killed in his driveway in Georgia. His wife and daughter were injured as the family was attacked by three masked men.
The tragic incidents brought to the fore the fact that gun violence accounted for about half the increase (20%) in mortality rates that occurred among children aged 1 to 19 between 2019 and 2021.
Indian Americans even though making up just 1.35 percent of the population are not any safer from gun violence in America, according to a study.
There may be no figures available to prove it, but traditionally, Indian Americans do not subscribe to the idea of possessing guns for self-protection.
Most Indians, the American Bazaar spoke to for the story, consider the prospect of having guns in households with growing children rather dangerous.
A 2022 Asian American Voter Survey, AAPI data revealed that a whopping 83% of Indian Americans believe that the US needs stricter gun laws.
With growing incidents involving gun violence in America and newer research such as the 2022 Pew study showing nearly half of parents expressing concern about the possibility of their children getting shot, Indian Americans too are looking at ways they can contribute towards reducing gun violence.
The family of slain gun-shot victim, Nabaruna Karmakar are raising money to create awareness about preventing gun violence. Her family set up a GoFundMe to benefit Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.
The Fund was formed both to educate the public about the detrimental effects of illegal guns to reduce gun violence in the United States and to lessen the burden on the government by assisting local governments and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to develop effective policies to combat illegal guns.
The Fund supports programmatic activities of approximately 1,000 mayors in the coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, as well as other government officials and law enforcement leaders. The fundraiser has already exceeded its $10,000 goal.
Indian Americans are also calling for informed ideas on what changes to demand and expect in the country. Some of those who have now lived in the US for decades say that it is important that newer migrants understand that possessing guns has been a constitutional right in America for centuries.
So instead of randomly talking about revoking gun laws, one needs to push for more logical reforms like mental health evaluations before purchasing a gun or getting licenses renewed every few years or having a responsible guarantor being required for buying a gun.
On social media expat groups are also advising Indians in America to write to their local senators to call for stricter laws around assault rifles. -
Indian American Punjab-born police officer Pratima Bhullar Maldonado becomes highest-ranking South Asian woman in NYPD
NEW YORK (TIP): Captain Pratima Bhullar Maldonado, an Indian-origin police officer has become the highest-ranking South Asian woman in the New York Police Department, a position she was promoted to recently.
Maldonado runs the 102nd Police Precinct in South Richmond Hill, Queens. She was promoted to the rank of Captain last month, media reported on Monday, May 15. The mother of four was born in Punjab and lived there until she was 9 before moving to Queens in New York. “It feels like coming home. I spent more than 25 years of my life in this precinct when I was growing up,” Maldonado said.
South Richmond Hill is home to one of the largest Sikh communities in the country.
“Going to the same Gurdwara that I did as a child, and now as a captain, I love it,” Maldonado said as she visited the Gurdwara. She told the media her new role will help with community policing.
“There are language barriers, people who can’t speak the language, English is a second language. I’ve seen that firsthand growing up here,” she said.
Maldonado is the highest-ranking South Asian woman in the NYPD—a position she was promoted to last month. But it wasn’t easy climbing the ranks, the report said.
“Getting out there and working and protecting people that are cursing you out sometimes and not appreciating what you’re doing, but you still got to do what you got to do,” Maldonado said.
“It’s a big responsibility. I want to be a better and positive example, not only for my community, for other females, kids that see us every day. Because that would change their perspective of how they view law enforcement,” she added.
According to the NYPD, of the department’s 33,787 members, 10.5 per cent are Asian.
“I feel extremely proud. It’s good to show other up and coming Asian, South Asian females that if you work hard enough you too can climb the ladder of success,” Maldonado said.
As New York City celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Maldonado reflected on her late father.
“My dad actually drove a taxi for many years. He supported us. He was a hard worker. He passed away in 2006, before I became a cop. He would have been so proud right now,” she said. -
Indian American Professor Ruma Chopra named Dean of Utah University’s Transform school
SALT LAKE CITY (TIP): Ruma Chopra, an Indian American professor of history has been named dean of University of Utah’s School for Cultural and Social Transformation. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2023.
Chopra will lead the school known as Transform, in its mission to examine the way bias, bigotry, inclusion and equity are centered and thought about, according to a university announcement.
“I am excited to join Transform,” Chopra said. “A school that incorporates interdisciplinary and intersectional learning as its foundation is remarkable, and I look forward to learning how my passion and experiences can be of service to the University of Utah.”
Chopra is co-founder and director of the university-wide honors program at San Jose State University, and a 2021-2022 American Council on Education Fellow.
While at San Jose State University, Chopra served as associate dean of research in the College of Social Science, acting as the primary contact for retention, promotion and tenure standards.
In launching the HonorsX program at the university, she secured Adobe’s partnership to help fund the project, and continued to manage the program budget, supervise staff, lead marketing initiatives and respond to faculty and student concerns.
Before pursuing a doctorate degree and path toward higher education, Chopra worked for seven years in high-tech, holding consulting and managerial positions at Intel, Cisco, Bell Labs and Google. She is a scholar of the American Revolution and American slavery and has authored three books on the subjects.
“Throughout her career, Dr. Chopra has displayed a thoughtful appreciation for research and interdisciplinarity that will be an asset to the School for Cultural and Social Transformation,” University of Utah Provost Mitzi M. Montoya said. “I am grateful that her search for equity and aspirational models in higher education has brought her to the U. I look forward to working with Dr. Chopra as she continues to work toward building a more just world.” Chopra was selected after an extensive national search, which was chaired by Marla DeJong, dean of the College of Nursing, and Edmond Fong, chair of Ethnic Studies, the university said.
Transform was formed in 2016 through a merger of ethnic studies, gender studies and disability studies. It has received ongoing support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, including a $600,000 grant for the Pacific Island Initiative, which was renewed with a $1 million grant in 2022.
The school has 33 faculty members who are highly recognized in the community of academics. -
Indian American A. Dylan Jadeja named as Riot Games’ next CEO
LOS ANGELES (TIP): Indian American A. Dylan Jadeja is set to become the new CEO of Riot Games, the developer behind smash-hit video games like ‘League of Legends,’ ‘Valorant’ and ‘Teamfight Tactics.’
Current global president Jadeja will succeed Nicolo Laurent later this year as Laurent moves into an advisor role, Los Angeles, California-based company announced.
Jadeja first joined Riot in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer and added Chief Operating Officer to his role in 2014. Three years later, he was named President of Riot and in 2022 assumed leadership of Riot’s Executive Suite and Enterprise efforts.
“When our founders transitioned to co-chair roles in 2017, Dylan was named President of Riot and has been one of the key leaders in crafting Riot’s strategy and driving our culture forward,” the company said.
The CEO transition from Nicolo to Dylan will take place over the coming months and should be completed by the end of 2023, after which Nicolo will stay with Riot in an advisory role.
“We talk a lot about staying hungry and humble, and on a day like today, I must admit that ‘humble’ does not sufficiently capture how fortunate I feel,” wrote Jadeja in an email to Rioters.
“I think we have all had the experience of being astounded by the talent surrounding us at Riot, but to be asked to lead this incredible group of people is a special honor and not something that I take lightly. I will do my best to make you proud.” “Today, as we start our next chapter, I’m more excited than I’ve ever been about our future,” he wrote. “I truly believe that our success will depend on our ability to empower our creative heart while staying resolute on our mission for players, no matter how difficult the environment or the situation.”
“As we face new challenges and opportunities, if we can stay true to this, I would bet on us to not only succeed, but to set a new bar for what’s possible for players,” he wrote.
“As CEO, it is fair to assume that I may do some things differently than those before me, but I want to assure you that the goal for us — together — will not waver. And that is to make Riot, unequivocally, the most trusted and authentic game company in the world… built by players, for players,” Jadeja wrote.
“The kind of place where people know that everything they play and experience from Riot will be amazing and that everything we do is focused on making it better to be a player.”
A key leader in Riot’s exponential growth and global expansion over the years, Jadeja has been a member of the senior executive team at Riot Games for more than a decade, according to his company profile.
As President, Jadeja oversees Riot’s global corporate strategy and development, venture investments, legal, finance and accounting, enterprise technology and security, human resources, corporate affairs, real estate and other key operational functions.
A longtime advocate for social impact and diversity & inclusion, he also spearheaded and oversees Riot’s $10 million commitment to investments in underrepresented founders in the gaming industry.
During his tenure in this role, he has architected numerous strategic investments for Riot, including the acquisitions of Hypixel Studios and Radiant Entertainment. In addition, Jadeja led the company’s 2015 equity sale to Tencent Holdings, Ltd. Before hanging up his suit and tie to enter the world of gaming, Dylan was co-head of West Coast Consumer Retail Coverage for Goldman Sachs.
His work with Goldman focused on financial transactions for Fortune 500 and mid-market companies, including mergers and acquisitions diligence, equity offerings, shareholder activism-related consulting, and recapitalization/restructuring analysis.
While there, Jadeja led highly successful transactions including Lululemon’s 2007 IPO and the 2010 sale of retailer Gymboree. Prior to Goldman, he began his career with Kearney Management Consulting.
Jadeja received his undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario Richard Ivey School of Business and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was named a George F. Baker Scholar and was a 2004 Siebel Scholar. Jadeja is an advisor to several companies in tech and consumer products and is on the Boards of the Los Angeles Food Bank and Intentional Sports. A native of India, he was raised in Ontario, Canada, where he developed his incorrigible addiction to ice hockey and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Dylan for years, and I’ve learned so much from him. He’s a natural leader who will do everything in his power to unlock our creative talent to do their best work,” Laurent stated.
“One of his biggest strengths? Empathy. The best leaders for the future will be the ones who can lead at scale, with empathy, and Dylan is one of them. He’s genuine and humble in his leadership, but also unafraid to ask tough questions to get to the best answer. “But most importantly, Dylan has a strong passion for Riot’s culture and DNA. He appreciates what makes Riot special — great Rioters and great teams, who love players, and love games — and will make sure we keep evolving to always be the best version of Riot we can be.” -
Indian American Geeta Rao Gupta to be Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American Geeta Rao Gupta has been confirmed by the US Senate as the Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues in the State Department. The department in a tweet on Friday, May 12 said it is looking forward to her efforts to promote women and girls’ rights through US foreign policy. Gupta was confirmed by the US Senate by 51 to 47 votes early this week.
According to Gupta, there are many inequities and indignities that women suffer around the world, which hold them back from participating fully in the economy. “They are subject to threats to their safety and have a fear of violence even on a daily basis, and that determines their mobility. “In situations of conflict and emergencies and humanitarian crises they are particularly vulnerable, both in terms of their safety but also in terms of their being able to look after their families and feed their families,” she said during her confirmation hearing last year. -
Indian American Executive Punit Renjen appointed SAP Supervisory Board deputy chairperson
NEW YORK (TIP): Deloitte Global’s former Indian American CEO Punit Renjen has been elected a member of the prestigious SAP Supervisory Board and named deputy chairperson of the market leader in enterprise application software. The election of Renjen, 61 was supported by 99.21% of the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of SAP SE, in Waldorf, Germany, according to a company release.
With that, the handover process from current Chairman Prof. Hasso Plattner to Renjen as the designated successor of the Chairman of the Board has started.
Company co-founder and current Chairman of the Board, Hasso Plattner, is scheduled to leave the SAP Supervisory Board when his current mandate expires after the 2024 AGM.
As a first step in this process, in an extraordinary meeting immediately following the AGM the Supervisory Board elected Punit Renjen as a Deputy Chairperson of the Supervisory Board.
“We believe that Punit Renjen is an excellent candidate who, with his outstanding expertise, his many years of experience in a global company, and his valuable knowledge of many industries, represents a gain for SAP and our Supervisory Board. And we all find him to be an extremely suitable and capable candidate to take over my role as chairperson of the Supervisory Board in the future,” said Hasso Plattner.
Punit Renjen added, “I am very thankful for the trust SAP shareholders put in me. I am looking forward to working with talented colleagues around the world to ensure SAP strengthens its position as an enterprise application leader in the cloud.” Last March President Joe Biden appointed Renjen to the President’s Export Council that serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade.
Renjen retired as Deloitte Global CEO on Dec 31, 2022, after having served in the role since June 2015. Under Renjen’s leadership Deloitte launched WorldClass—a global effort to prepare 100 million underprivileged people for a world of opportunity—based on the belief that when society thrives, business thrives, according to his official profile. Over his career, Renjen has been recognized by numerous organizations for his leadership, business acumen and commitment to societal impact.
In 2022, Renjen was recognized by the Economic Times as “Global Indian of the Year” and the Carnegie Corporation of America as one of 34 “Great Immigrants. Great Americans.”
In 2021, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum recognized Renjen with its Global Achievement Award. In 2020, Renjen was awarded the Oregon History Makers Medal. Renjen was raised in Rohtak, Haryana. After earning an MBA in management from Oregon’s Willamette University, he was hired by Touche Ross, which merged into Deloitte in 1989. He has worked at Deloitte and lived in the US ever since. -
Indian-origin professional Aishwarya Thatikonda killed in Texas shooting
DALLAS (TIP): Friends from school fondly remember 28-year-old Aishwarya Thatikonda as “Rowdy” – a nickname she earned for her courage and bold personality.
The young Indian professional was among those who were killed when a gunman opened fire at an outlet mall in Allen near Dallas in Texas. A total of eight people were killed before the police shot the gunman down.
Thatikonda was with another Indian friend when the gunman opened fire in the outlet mall killing unsuspecting shoppers. Her friend was also injured in the incident.
She worked as a project manager in Frisco based Perfect General Contractors LLC in Texas and lived in the Dallas suburb of McKinney. Thatikonda hailed from Hyderabad and came to the US for her Masters from Eastern Michigan University after completing her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Osmania University.
Aishwarya did her masters in construction management in the US and was on a work-based visa. Her family hails from Saroornagar in Hyderabad. Her family in Hyderabad are devastated. Aishwarya’s father Narsi Reddy works as a judge in Rangareddy district court in Hyderabad.
School friends remember Aishwarya as someone who would always step in to help her friends whether it was to clear backlogs or donate money to NGOs.
The news of an Indian killed among those who lost their lives in Texas shooting, has cast a pall of gloom over the Indian community not just in Dallas, Texas but across the US.
Thatikonda’s family is now looking to repatriate her mortal remains to India.
As Vice President Kamala Harris noted in a statement “Allen, Texas was torn apart by a senseless mass shooting at a shopping mall—one of far too many communities impacted by gun violence.”
“While there is much we do not yet know about this attack, here is what we do know: all Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence. But they are not,” she stated.
“Not because we do not know the solutions. Not because the American people are divided on this issue – even a majority of gun owners support sensible reforms,” Harris stated calling for gun reforms. -
Indian American Vishal Gaur named dean of Cornell School of Management
ITHACA, NY (TIP): Indian American professor and Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi alumnus Vishal Gaur has been named the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in Cornell University. Gaur, the Emerson Professor of Manufacturing Management and professor of operations, technology, and information management, will begin his role as dean July 1, according to a university release. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business Dean Andrew Karolyi announced May 5 that Gaur will also serve as a member of his College Leadership Team. Gaur joined the Cornell faculty in 2007 and previously served as associate dean for MBA programs at the Johnson School.
“Vishal has demonstrated his outstanding commitment to the Johnson School time and again, as a distinguished scholar, as an award-winning educator and especially as an effective leader,” Karolyi stated. “I couldn’t be more pleased that he’ll lead the school into its next phase.”
“The Johnson School is a leader in graduate business education and scholarship. I’m really excited to work towards the mission of the school,” Gaur stated.
“Our degree programs focus on skills relevant to society and draw on our interdisciplinary academic scholarship. The support of our alumni and the investments they make in our school are incredible. Since the Johnson School joined the SC Johnson College, new opportunities have emerged for faculty research, teaching, and collaboration.”
As associate dean for MBA programs from 2014-19, Gaur launched the Digital Technology Immersion, in which MBA candidates and students earning their MPS in data science or applied statistics develop skills in coding, databases and advanced analytics and learn to leverage them to tackle challenges faced by leading companies, according to the university release.
Gaur also created the Master of Science in Business Analytics program offered through eCornell, which provides working professionals a hands-on opportunity to learn about data analytics tools essential to analyzing and optimizing business decisions.
“The creation of these programs represents Vishal’s forward-thinking leadership, which will continue to serve students well into the future,” Karolyi stated.
Gaur’s research focuses on data-driven analysis of problems in supply chains, retailing, e-commerce and marketplace operations, and his work was recognized with the Wickham Skinner Early Career Research Accomplishments Award from the Production and Operations Management Society in 2006, the release stated.
He created a method for benchmarking inventory turnover performance of firms, and his current projects involve the reduction of food waste and supply chain risk.
Gaur is the 2022 recipient of the Class of 1992 Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2020 recipient of the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award and a three-time winner of the Johnson School’s Core Faculty Award. Well-known among students for the care and attention he gives to his teaching, he currently teaches the Semester in Strategic Operations MBA immersion course, where students go on site visits and work on client projects in topics such as industry 4.0, traceability, and sales and operations planning.
Gaur earned his PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (2001), MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (1995) and BTech in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (1993).
Founded in 1946, the Johnson School now enrolls nearly 1,600 students in MBA, executive MBA and advanced degree programs in management, accounting, business analytics and more. Programs are offered in Ithaca, the New York City metropolitan area, Beijing and more than 20 additional cities across North and South America. -
Indian American Swadesh Chatterjee elected to North Carolina University Board of Governors
CHAPEL HILL, NC (TIP): Swadesh Chatterjee, an Indian American businessman, entrepreneur, and community leader, has been elected to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for a four-year term.
Chatterjee, 75, was elected with five others — Dr. Pearl Burris-Floyd, C. Philip Byers, R. Gene Davis, Jr., H. Terry Hutchens, and J. Alex Mitchell — by a resolution of the North Carolina House on May 3 for terms commencing July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2027.
Chatterjee, chief executive officer of Swadesh Chatterjee & Associates, Inc is a Vice Chair of Chancellor’s Global Leadership Council, a group of successful international business leaders, policy experts, innovative entrepreneurs, and philanthropists who are committed to providing strategic financial support for UNC’s global mission.
The GLC is comprised of alumni and friends who are aligned with different schools and units, personally engaged with global topics, or have significant regional expertise and interests.
Chatterjee, who operated an industrial instrumentation company in North Carolina, is one of the co-founders and past presidents of TiE Carolinas, a group of businesspeople whose primary goal is to develop and assist fledgling entrepreneurs. He sits on the board of various pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and other life science companies in the US, Europe, and India. Last October North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper presented the State’s highest award, Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Chatterjee. Cooper described Chatterjee as a “spark plug among us” as he applauded his contribution not only to the development of North Carolina but also to the India-US relationship and enriching the cultural milieu of the United States. In January 2009, Chatterjee was inducted as a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin.
In 2007 he was the first recipient of the Community Leader of the Year award by India Abroad. Chatterjee was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, by the President of India in 2001, in the public affairs category for building better relations between the US and India.
He is the author of Building Bridges: How Indian Americans Brought the United States and India Closer Together (2014). He has a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Calcutta and a Bachelor of Science in instrumentation and electronic engineering from Jadavpur University. He received his Master of Business Administration from North Carolina State University. -
Indian American Neera Tanden named as Biden’s domestic policy adviser
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP)– President Joe Biden announced on Friday, May 5, that Indian American policy expert Neera Tanden will serve as his new domestic policy adviser in place of Susan Rice, who plans to leave the administration later this month.
Tanden, 53, has spent the last year-and-a-half as senior adviser and staff secretary in the White House, after her initial nomination to run the Office of Management and Budget faltered in the face of Senate opposition.
Daughter of an immigrant single mother “from India who was left to make it on her own in America with two young children after her divorce” from her father, Tanden will be the first Asian-American to lead any of the three major White House policy councils in history. “While growing up, Neera relied on some of the critical programs that she will oversee as Domestic Policy Advisor,” Biden noted in a statement announcing the move. “I know those insights will serve my Administration and the American people well.”
In addition, the White House announced that Stef Feldman, a longtime Biden aide dating back to the Obama administration, will replace Tanden in the role of staff secretary.
“For over two years, Susan Rice has helped craft and implement my domestic policy agenda and our country owes a debt of gratitude for her history-making public service,” Biden said.
“I am pleased to announce that Neera Tanden will continue to drive the formulation and implementation of my domestic policy, from economic mobility and racial equity to health care, immigration, and education.
“As Senior Advisor and Staff Secretary, Neera oversaw decision-making processes across my domestic, economic and national security teams,” Biden said.
“She has 25 years of experience in public policy, has served three Presidents, and led one of the largest think tanks in the country for nearly a decade,” he noted.
She was a key architect of the Affordable Care Act and helped drive key domestic policies that became part of my agenda, including clean energy subsidies and sensible gun reform.
“While growing up, Neera relied on some of the critical programs that she will oversee as Domestic Policy Advisor, and I know those insights will serve my Administration and the American people well. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Neera in her new role,” Biden said.
Tanden served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as presidential campaigns and think tanks. Most recently, Tanden was the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress and the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
Tanden previously served as senior advisor for health reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, working on President Obama’s health reform team in the White House.
Prior to that, she was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign, and served as policy director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.
Tanden served as senior advisor to the Chancellor of the New York City Schools and also served as Associate Director for Domestic Policy in the Clinton White House and Senior Policy Advisor to the First Lady.
Tanden received her Bachelor of Science from UCLA and her Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. -
Indian-origin drunk driver kills 2 teenagers in a car crash
NEW YORK (TIP): A drunk Indian-origin pick-up truck driver slammed into a car killing two 14-year-old boys on the spot and injuring two others in Long Island, New York, police said.
Amandeep Singh, 34, was driving his 2019 Dodge Ram south in the northbound lanes on North Broadway in Jericho on Wednesday when he smashed into a 2019 Alfa Romeo four-door sedan with four male teens inside, Nassau County Police said on Thursday. While two teens — identified as Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz — were pronounced dead at the scene, the other two, aged 16 and 17, were taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries, Fox News reported.
Describing the scene, Nassau County Police Detective Capt Stephen Fitzpatrick said it was “probably one of the most catastrophic scenes I’ve seen in a long time”.
Singh, a resident of Roslyn, New York, fled the scene after the initial collision and struck another vehicle — a 2023 Volvo driven by a 49-year-old woman and a 16-year-old male passenger, police said, adding that both the victims were treated at the scene and released.
Singh was arrested the same day and transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.
He has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree manslaughter, leaving the scene of an auto accident with a fatality, driving while intoxicated, and two counts of second-degree assault. Singh was arraigned on Thursday, May 4, at First District Court in Hempstead.
According to prosecutors, Singh’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was twice the legal limit at the time of the collision.
The court heard that he had previously been convicted of a DWI (driving while intoxicated) and gang assault as a teenager.