On January 16, 2024, 25-year old Indian student Vivek Saini was beaten to death by a homeless man in a convenience store in Lithonia City, Georgia. Saini had recently earned his MBA degree and was working as a part-time clerk in the convenience store while looking for employment opportunities. 

In the two days leading up to the horrific crime, Saini had offered a coke, a packet of chips and even a jacket to Faulkner, who was taking shelter in the store. However, on the 16th, when Saini asked him to leave the premises of the store, Faulkner struck him with a hammer multiple times, killing him. When the police arrived, they found Faulkner at the scene of the crime next to Saini’s body. Faulkner might have been under the influence of drugs at the time. 

Through a social media post, the Consulate General of India in Atlanta expressed anguish at the incident and said that it has been in touch with Saini’s family in India and offered consular help to transport his mortal remains to them. 

The crime caught the attention of the press and the public after the CCTV video footage of the crime surfaced on social media. Back home in Haryana, Saini’s family members are devastated as they try to come to grips with this tragedy. 

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