Deadly Attacks Plague Gujarati-Owned Businesses Across the US

As of October 2025, the Gujarati community in the United States, particularly the Patel family, continues to face a surge in violent crimes targeting their businesses. In the past year alone, at least 7 Gujaratis have been killed while operating motels, gas stations, and convenience stores across the country.

The most recent incident occurred on October 5th, when Anil Patel and Pankaj Patel, both with roots in Gujarat, were shot dead at a motel in North Carolina. This came just months after a Gujarati woman and her father were gunned down in South Carolina during an attempted robbery at a convenience store.

Motels and gas stations, often tucked along highways or in isolated towns, have become magnets for criminal activity, ranging from drug deals to prostitution, break-ins, and shootouts. The Gujarati community, which controls over 60% of the US motel industry, has found its visible success making them easy targets for resentment and racial hostility, even in the remotest corners of the country.

Despite the risks, the Gujarati community's grip on the US motel sector has only grown stronger over the decades. Starting in the mid-1930s with the arrival of Kanji Manchhu Desai, the "godfather of Indian-owned hotels in the US," Gujaratis have built a vast business empire through collective buying, family labor, and a strategy of "paying it forward" to support fellow community members.

However, the recent spate of attacks on Gujarati-owned businesses has highlighted the high-stakes nature of their success, with community leaders pointing to a surge in hate crimes and anti-India sentiment as contributing factors. As the Gujarati motel empire continues to thrive, the safety and security of its owners remain a critical concern.