[Adhikari and his parents moved to the United States looking for better life than the one they spent for 17 years in their Nepalese refugee camp, said the victim's father, Tika. They were later joined by Adhikari's brother and sister-in-law and were awaiting the arrival of another brother.
The family previously fled Bhutan , near Nepal Jacksonville
By Jim Schoettler
Robbery was the apparent motive in the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old Bhutanese immigrant late Sunday in Jacksonville
Karen Croke works in the office at the World Relief refugee resettlement agency, which brought Adhikari and his family to Jacksonville
"To think that you had a part of bringing someone here to make a better life for themselves and this happens, it's awful," Croke said.
Adhikari's family said he was robbed of his wallet and a cell phone by a gunman who shot him at point blank range and then walked off.
The slaying occurred shortly before midnight at the Stonemont Village Apartments off Belair Road Philips Highway
Adhikari's brother-in-law said he saw Adhikari get shot in the parking lot of the complex. The brother-in-law said Adhikari had just left his nearby apartment and called from the parking lot for him to come his home when the shooting occurred.
The brother-in-law said he looked out his window and saw the shirtless gunman pointing a gun at Adhikari's chest while Adhikari was holding his arms up. The brother-in-law heard a shot and saw the victim collapse. The brother-in-law then began screaming and called 911. He said the gunman walked away casually.
Adhikari was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother-in-law is not being identified by the Times-Union because no arrests have been made.
Adhikari and his parents moved to the United States
The family previously fled Bhutan , near Nepal Jacksonville
The victim had been working at a nearby Wal-Mart for about two weeks and was attending Florida Community College at Jacksonville Jacksonville
Dozens of friends and strangers from the same community where the victim grew up gathered outside the apartment complex and inside the family's apartment to offer their condolences this morning. They also expressed outrage at the slaying of another immigrant in Jacksonville
"It's unimaginable how this could happen," said Dilli Mishra, a friend of the victim's.
Padam Pokhrel, 30, resettled in Jacksonville about 10 months ago from Nepal
“We feel very miserable,” Pokhrel said. “We’re here for a new life, hoping that we’ll be safe.”
Yagya Dahal, 23, was neighbors with Adhikari at their refugee camp and reunited with his friend when they moved to Jacksonville
Dahal said they never experienced such violence in Nepal and thinks some refugees may be reluctant to resettle in the United States
“What do they think now?” Dahal said.
Anyone with information should call Jacksonville
2. Family of slain Jacksonville immigrant said he was robbed
