Deepak Kandel (Austin Police Department).
In Austin, Texas, a bus passenger was stabbed by another individual on Wednesday, as reported by the police. The alleged motive behind the attack? The victim bore a resemblance to the assailant’s uncle. Deepak Kandel, 31, faces a murder charge.
Authorities state that officers and EMS were dispatched to the 500 block of South Lawar Boulevard at 6:45 p.m., where they received reports of a stabbing on a CapMetro bus. First responders encountered Akshay Gupta, 30, with severe injuries. Despite efforts to save him, he was declared dead at 7:30 p.m.
Investigators claimed they soon discovered Kandel was the killer.
“Homicide Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists were on scene to process the incident and gather witness statements,” police stated. “The investigation revealed that the suspect, identified as Deepak Kandel, had been seated next to Mr. Gupta when, unprovoked, he stabbed Mr. Gupta in the neck. After the bus came to a halt, Kandel calmly disembarked along with the other passengers and fled on foot. APD patrol officers managed to locate and apprehend Kandel shortly after. Kandel confessed to the stabbing, citing the victim’s resemblance to his uncle as his reason.”
Police are reaching out to anyone with information on the case, but also riders who might have left something on the bus because of the stabbing. From their statement:
Anyone needing to retrieve personal property left on the CapMetro bus as a result of this incident is asked to contact CapMetro customer service at 512-474-1200 for instructions.
Anyone with information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.
