Kansas shooting hero Ian Grillot: It's not about where he's from, or ethnicity. We're all humans

Grillot, 24, unwittingly became the hero in a racially motivated attack that left one Indian, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, dead and another, Alok Madasani, in hospital. Grillot too was injured in the racially motivated shooting.

When Ian Grillot walked into his favourite bar on Thursday evening, all he wanted to do was unwind and catch the local basketball game.

Instead, Grillot, 24, unwittingly became the hero in a racially motivated attack that left one Indian, Srinivas Kuchibhotla, dead and another, Alok Madasani, in hospital. Grillot too was injured in the racially motivated shooting. Both Madasani and Grillot are in stable condition in the hospital.

In a video released by the University of Kansas Health System, Grillot can be heard narrating the incident. When the shooting began, Grillot ducked behind a table and counted off the shots fired by the assailant – Adam Purinton – and when he thought Purinton had run out of bullets, he lunged at the man. However, Purinton still had one round in his gun magazine and managed to shoot Grillot through the arm and chest. Recounting that, Grillot said, “I guess I miscounted.”

Talking about the attack and what motivated him to put his life in danger, Grillot, known locally to defuse tensions, said he wasn't really thinking when he tried to save the two Indians. “It was just, it wasn't right, and I didn't want the gentleman to go after somebody else.”

NEW BEST FRIEND

Grillot also said that though it had been a harrowing experience, he was thrilled to see Madasani standing in his doorway at the hospital. “It put the biggest smile on my face,” Grillot said in the video. “I'm just very grateful that one of the gentlemen is fine and alive. It's terrible what happened to his friend. But I think he was watching over us last night,” he said with tears in his eyes.

He said he considered the Indian his new “best friend”.

“I was just doing what anyone should have done,” Grillot said. “It's not about where he's from, or ethnicity. We're all humans.”

Adam Purinton, who was arrested soon after the attack has been charged with murder for an attack that has been described as racially motivated.