A tragic incident in Austin, Texas, has resulted in the death of Akshay Gupta, a 30-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur. Gupta was fatally stabbed on May 14th while riding a public bus. The assailant, identified as 31-year-old Deepak Kandel, also of Indian origin, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the attack occurred without any prior interaction or provocation. Gupta was seated at the back of the CapMetro bus when Kandel, who was sitting next to him, suddenly stabbed him in the neck. The APD reported that Kandel calmly exited the bus along with other passengers after the bus came to a stop.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and attempted to save Gupta's life, but he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m. The police quickly located Kandel nearby and took him into custody. During questioning, Kandel confessed to the murder, offering a bizarre explanation that he stabbed Gupta because he resembled his uncle.

News reports indicate that Kandel has a history of arrests, though he has not been prosecuted for previous offenses. He is currently held in Travis County Jail.

Akshay Gupta was a co-founder of ASG Research LLC, a health-tech startup he established in June 2024. CCTV footage from the bus showed Gupta sitting quietly, looking down, and not engaging with anyone before the attack. The senseless act of violence has shocked the Austin community and the broader Indian diaspora. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind the unprovoked stabbing.