OLATHE, Kan. — The man charged with shooting three men at the Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe made his first appearance in court Monday and named his attorney.
Michelle Durrett from the Johnson County Public Defenders Office will serve as Adam Purinton’s attorney.
Purinton faces one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection to the shooting. According to Steve Howe, Johnson County District Attorney, Purinton faces hard 50 on state charges.
The FBI is also helping gather evidence in the shooting because Kansas does not have a hate crime statute. If their agents can prove Purinton’s alleged actions constitute a hate crime, he could face federal charges that could potentially carry the death penalty.
Federal investigators looking into deadly Austins Bar and Grill shooting as a possible hate crime
Purinton is currently being held in the Johnson County jail on a $2-million cash bond.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed.
Prosecutors claim Purinton opened fire inside Austin’s restaurant last Wednesday night, killing Srinivas Kuchibhotla and wounding Alok Madasani and Ian Grillot.
Police arrested Purinton in Henry County, Mo., after he reportedly went into an Applebee’s restaurant there and allegedly confided to the bartender that he had been involved in a shooting. He was extradited back to Kansas on Friday.
Members of the Olathe community gathered for a prayer vigil Sunday night. Shooting victim Madasani spoke for the first time since the tragedy. Madasani explained how after he was shot, a customer named Brad took off his own shirt and pressed it against the wound to stop the bleeding and help his life. He also talked about the pain he feels from losing his best friends to such violence.
“What happened that night was a senseless crime that took away my best friend,” Madasani said.
GoFundMe pages have been set up for each of the shooting victims:
Srinivas Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani
Austins Bar and Grill reopened Saturday.
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