Police offer $20,000 reward in killing of Indian national in US

Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest in the killing of a 28-year-old Indian man in Philadelphia who was shot dead after delivering pizza to a vacant home.

Anshul Kuncha, who hailed from Hyderabad, was shot in the back of the head and killed around 12:30 am Friday (June 5) when he was making a pizza delivery to a vacant property in North Philadelphia.

The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences at the tragic incident and said it is extending all possible assistance to Kuncha’s family.

“We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Anshul Kuncha, an Indian national in Philadelphia, PA. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family during this difficult time. The Consulate is in touch with Anshul’s family and is extending all possible assistance,” it said in a post on X on Saturday (June 6).

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A report in NBC Philadelphia said that police are offering a $20,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

According to authorities, the deadly shooting happened at the Raymond Rosen Homes on the 2300 block of Edgley Street.

They found Kuncha shot in the head just after he completed a delivery to a vacant unit in the area. Kuncha was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Surveillance cameras operated by the Philadelphia Housing Authority recorded moments of the incident. While the shooting itself wasn't caught on camera, recordings show Kuncha walking with the boxes while being followed by two people wearing dark clothing, authorities said.

One of the people following the victim appeared to be carrying a dark backpack.

The report added that an investigation into the shooting has revealed that Kuncha was lured to the vacant apartment to deliver an order of three pizzas.

Chief Inspector Scott Small with the Philadelphia Police Department said that Kuncha was “lying on the ground unresponsive, bleeding heavily with a gunshot wound to his head.” "All three spent shell casings were just a few inches away from where this victim was lying on the ground in the courtyard, which is an indication that the shooter or shooters were standing very close to the victim since the spent shell casings, all three, were just inches away from the victim," Small was quoted as saying by the NBC report.

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While no arrests have yet been made in the case, Small said they have the phone number from the caller who ordered the pizzas, which Kuncha had gone to deliver.

Investigators are working with the pizza shop involved in this situation and are investigating if the person who called in that order was connected to the incident.

“We do have the phone number that made that pizza delivery," Small said.

"From looking at the pizza boxes, we were able to identify the pizza shop," Small said.

Kuncha’s vehicle was also discovered near the scene, with a pizza warmer still inside, it added.

Police found three untouched pizza boxes and a bag inside the vacant apartment, signalling that Kuncha successfully delivered the items before being shot outside.

In Hyderabad, Kuncha's family has sought justice and appealed to the Ministry of External Affairs to bring back his mortal remains at the earliest.