One Nepali woman was shot dead and another Nepali was injured in the American state of Maryland when a female co-worker randomly fired shots, before taking her own life.

National and international media outlets, including CNN, identified the victim as Brinda Giri, 41, and the injured Nepali as Purna Acharya, 45.

Nepali Ambassador to the US Arjun Karki confirmed that one Nepali woman was killed and another Nepali immigrant was injured in the incident. “The case is being investigated,” he said over phone from the US capital.

According to CNN, the other victims are Aguda, 45, and Hayleen Reyes, 41, of Baltimore. The injured are Hassan Mithell, 19, of Hardford county and Wilfredo Villegas, 45, of Montgomery County.

The shooter has been identified as Snochia Moseley, 26.

News reports state that Brinda Giri of Parbat district had been working for three months at the drugstore. Giri was staying at Baltimore and Acharya in New York. Eight Nepalis were working at the same drugstore and about 65 workers were working in the warehouse at the time.

Brinda had joined her husband Kashiram Giri in the US in April. She was living with her husband, a son and a daughter there.

The incident occurred in the morning at a drugstore distribution centre - Rite Aid - in Maryland City when her co-workers got in to an argument, according to police, whose statements have been posted on AP and CNN websites.

Fellow workers ran out of the store screaming after shots were fired.

AP quoted Hardford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler as saying that three people were shot dead and three were wounded and the injured were expected to survive. He said the shooter Moseley died at a hospital of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Gahler said Moseley had been diagnosed with mental illness in 2016. Moseley had become increasingly agitated and relatives had been concerned for her well-being, said Gahler. According to Gahler she used a handgun that she legally purchased in March to fire a total of 13 rounds on Thursday morning and died after shooting herself in the head.

Published On: 23 September 2018 | The Himalayan Times