LITHONIA, GEORGIA – A 25-year-old Indian-origin man, Vivek Saini, studying for a Master’s in the United States, was tragically killed by a homeless man, Julian Faulkner, inside a store in Lithonia, Georgia. The incident, which was captured on camera, shows Faulkner repeatedly striking Saini with a hammer after he asked him to leave the store on January 16.
According to the store’s employees, they had been providing shelter to Faulkner for nearly two days, offering him food, water, and a jacket due to the cold weather. Despite Faulkner’s previous presence, they did not ask him to leave earlier. However, when Saini insisted, Faulkner viciously attacked him with the hammer as he left for home, hitting him approximately 50 times on the head. When the police arrived, Faulkner was found standing over Saini’s body with the murder weapon, and Saini was pronounced dead at the scene.
Saini, who had pursued a Bachelor’s in Computer Science from Chandigarh University in India before going to the US two years ago for a Master’s in Business Administration at Alabama University, was described as a brilliant student seeking a decent job to support his family. The family shared that he had been giving cigarettes to Faulkner, but on the fateful day, he refused, leading to the tragic turn of events.
Faulkner, identified as the assailant, was described by Saini’s cousin as a “drug addict and a psycho.” Saini’s body has been repatriated to India, where his last rites have been completed. The grieving family, particularly his parents, Gurjeet Singh and Lalita Saini, are struggling to cope with the profound loss and are currently not able to discuss the details of the tragic incident.
The community and Saini’s fellow students in the US have expressed shock and grief at the senseless act of violence. The incident has also sparked discussions about the safety of retail workers, particularly in the context of providing assistance to homeless individuals. Advocates are calling for better support systems and resources to protect both vulnerable individuals and those who are working to support themselves and their families.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to understand the events leading up to the tragic attack and to ensure that justice is served for Vivek Saini and his devastated family.