Rupp Gupta, a 68-year-old man of Indian ethnicity, was tragically shot and killed on February 9, 2021, at his store, Madeira Beverage, located on Kenwood Road in Madeira, Ohio. Gupta was working behind the counter when the incident occurred. The shooting was part of a robbery, and Gupta's death marked the first homicide in Madeira since 1984.
Following the murder, authorities launched an investigation to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Surveillance footage from the store helped in generating leads, and the ATF offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the shooter.
The investigation led to the arrest of Lamond Johnson, who was charged with the aggravated murder of Rupp Gupta. Johnson was also implicated in another robbery that took place at a Sunoco gas station in Blue Ash, Ohio, on the same night as Gupta's murder. During his arrest, Johnson allegedly assaulted an ATF agent and attempted to flee, but was eventually apprehended.
In addition to Johnson, Willie Attaway was also charged in connection with the murder and a series of armed robberies that occurred over two days. Attaway pleaded guilty to the murder of Gupta and multiple armed robberies, admitting to shooting Gupta once in the abdomen during the robbery at Madeira Beverage. Both Johnson and Attaway faced serious legal consequences for their actions, with Johnson being held on a $1.4 million bond and Attaway receiving a 40-year prison sentence.
The community was deeply affected by Gupta's death, with neighbors and customers expressing their grief and support for his family. A GoFundMe campaign was set up to help the family, raising nearly $50,000 in 24 hours. The tragic loss of Rupp Gupta left a lasting impact on those who knew him and the community he served.
