Indian-origin student in US dies from self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head

Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, who was found dead in the woods on 5 February in Indiana, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.

Justin Brummett, Coroner at Warren County Coroner’s Office, in a press release said the preliminary cause of Kamath’s death is a “gunshot wound of the head” and he died by suicide. A toxicology report is pending.

A forensic autopsy was performed on Kamath, a US citizen from Massachusetts, on 6 February in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

He was found dead in the woods on 5 February at approximately 5 pm in NICHES Land Trust – Crow’s Grove in Williamsport, Indiana.

“Through extensive investigation by the Warren County Coroner’s Office in conjunction with multiple other local and federal agencies, we are now able to release a preliminary cause and manner of death,” the release said.

The coroner’s office further said prior to releasing this information, Kamath’s family was notified of the results.

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“This is an ongoing investigation with the Warren County Coroner’s Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Purdue University Administration and other supporting agencies,” it said.

“Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family and we hope they are respected during such a difficult time,” Brummett said.

Kamath was a doctorate student in the mechanical engineering department at Purdue University. His LinkedIn profile showed that he was expected to graduate from the doctoral program in 2025.

He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and came to Purdue in the summer of 2021.

Kamath graduated from the department with a Masters’ Degree in mechanical engineering in August 2023.

With inputs from PTI