Goa Native John Dias Shot Dead While Working at a Convenience Store in Northeast Houston

The 27-year-old man was in the U.S. for the last two years and is survived by his mother.

Police are investigating the deadly shooting of an Indian store clerk in a convenience store in northeast Houston, Texas. John Dias, 27, who worked at V Stop Food Mart was found in the back room of the store with at least one gunshot wound on his right shoulder died on spot, said detective Kris Persad of Houston police, according to news reports.

The police have not yet confirmed if the shooting was a result of a robbery.

A few days after the March 20 shooting death of Dias, police released surveillance video showing the suspect walking into the store, pulling a gun at the register and then running off. The suspect is described as a Black male, 20 to 25 years old, about 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds. He was wearing a black jacket, black pants with white stripes, and black shoes. He also had a hoodie over his head and was wearing a black face mask.

Reports in Indian media say, Dias, who is from Chandor village in Goa, was a goalkeeper for the local football club. He then worked on a cruise liner before moving to the U.S. two years ago. An only child, he is survived by his mother.

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Sam Smith, a regular customer at V Stop Food Mart, told KHOU11 that Dias “was a great person.”

Local authorities are working with the Goa government to get Dais’ body to India. Pramod Sawant, designated chief minister of Goa assured the government’s support in the repatriation. “Saddened by the tragic incident in USA leading to the death of a young Goan, John Dias from Cuncolim,” Sawant tweeted, adding that the office of the commissioner for NRI affairs is already in touch with the consulate general of India, Houston, for seeking their assistance for bringing the mortal remains of Dias “so that his family can have the funeral in Goa”