NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Union, SC, October 10, 2025: Nearly four weeks after Indian American store owner Kiran Patel was shot and killed outside her convenience store in Union, South Carolina, grief and anger continue to ripple through the community as her family calls for the harshest punishment for the man accused of killing her.
Patel, 49, was gunned down on Sept. 16 outside DD’s Food Mart on South Pinckney Street. Police say a masked man entered the store around 10:30 p.m., fired shots during what appeared to be a robbery attempt, then chased Patel into the parking lot and fatally shot her. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Patel collapsing about 20 feet from the store entrance.
According to media reports citing the surveillance video, the gunman demanded money from Patel before the shooting. Patel is said to have resisted by throwing an object at the assailant, after which he opened fire inside the store, chased her outside, and shot her.
Authorities arrested 21-year-old Zaedan “Zayden” Mack Hill after a tense standoff with police two days later. Hill, who is also accused in another killing earlier that day, faces charges of murder, armed robbery and weapons offenses. A judge denied bond, and his next court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1 in Union County.
Patel had lived in Union for about 14 years and had been working at DD’s Food Mart for the past two. Her death has left the local community reeling and raised concerns among other convenience store owners about their safety.
“We want the harshest punishment possible,” a family member told local media, adding that Patel had come to Union to build a better life for her family.
The killing has also fueled broader concerns about violence in the area. Patel’s shooting occurred the same day another man, 67-year-old Charles Nathan Crosby, was found dead on South Mountain Street, and residents say recent shootings have put the community on edge. Police believe the incidents may be connected.
Customers and friends remembered Patel as a hardworking woman who treated everyone with kindness. “She was part of our daily lives,” one customer said. “This store won’t feel the same without her.”
As Hill awaits his first court appearance, Patel’s family and community continue to seek justice and answers — and to grapple with the loss of a life cut short by senseless violence.
