Mradulaben Patel was shot in the face in what is suspected to an attempted armed robbery in South Carolina
An Indian-origin woman, working at a gas station, died after being shot in the face in what is suspected to an attempted armed robbery in South Carolina, the third such incident in the US within a month.
59-year-old Mradulaben Patel, whose family is originally from Gujarat, was the co-owner of a store at a BP gas station in Powdersville. An unidentified man is believed to have shot Ms Patel in the face on Thursday night.
Police has asked for help to identify the assailant.
Ms Patel, who underwent surgery on Friday, later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Police said surveillance video footage shows a man walking into the store and buying a pack of cigars. Investigators said they believe the man shot Ms Patel during an attempted robbery. After the shooting, a customer, Michael Wheat found Ms Patel lying on the floor and called 911, they added.
"I saw her lying there on the floor, bleeding pretty bad," said Mr Wheat, adding that Ms Patel had blood all over her head and on the floor.
He said he left the store and got in his truck from where he called emergency assistance number 911.
He also said that he ran back into the store, not knowing whether the shooter had already left the scene of the incident.
"She was moaning as she was breathing," said Mr Wheat.
Ms Patel holds both American and British citizenship.
Officials at the Indian Consulate in Atlanta have spoken to her husband. Her family has not sought any assistance from the Indian mission, officials said.
Customers at the store remembered Ms Patel as a friendly woman.
"She always asked how everybody was, their day was, (and) she asked how my daughter was every day that I came in here," said Shalynn Zarczynski, a regular customer.
Two Indians - Sanjay Patel (39) and Rajesh Madala (35) - were killed during suspected robbery attempts in two separate incidents at gas stations in the US last month, sending shockwaves among the local population.