The Indian student, who is battling for his life in the US after being stabbed in a public gymnasium, was a 'quiet and reserved' person who generally kept to himself.
Varun Raj Pucha, of Khammam, is currently in critical condition at a Fort Wayne hospital and battling for his life in a coma, according to a GoFundMe account set up by the North American Telugu Society. The fundraiser had generated $45,660 by early Thursday morning.
According to the GoFundMe page, Pucha is currently in a critical condition and his family is facing a harrowing journey filled with uncertainty and overwhelming medical bills. "We were contacted by the family with a heavy heart, asking for our support to cover his extensive medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to the USA," the page added.
Pucha, a university studying graduate level computing and information sciences at Valparaiso University in Indiana, was attacked by a 24-year-old man, identified as Jordan Andrade, on Sunday morning at the Planet Fitness club in Valparaiso. Andrade remains behind bars Thursday morning at the Porter County Jail.
Andrade told police he felt Pucha was a "little wierd" and believed he was going to assassinate him. Determining that Pucha posed a threat, Andrade said he made sure to react the "right way," US-based NWI Times quoted the charging document.
However, the accused also claimed Pucha never got out of his chair nor instigated any contact. "The only physical contact was (Pucha) attempting to push Andrade off him after Andrade started attacking him," police said in the charging document.
"Officers also spoke with Planet Fitness staff who indicated that (Pucha) was a regular gym member and generally kept to himself, was quiet and reserved, nothing indicating that he was 'creepy,'" police said.
The charging document added that the accused Andrade was a former high school football player. He reportedly described Pucha as "pretty little." The accused reportedly used a knife and put it through the Indian student's head.
Meanwhile, the US has expressed regret over the attack on Pucha. The US State Department has also wished him a full recovery and said that it defers to local law enforcement for any questions about this ongoing case.
