On a Thursday afternoon, the life of 47-year-old Pinakin Patel was tragically cut short in a violent encounter outside the Airport Mart Exxon on South Boston Road in Danville, Virginia. A native of Vadodara, India, the Indian-American man worked alongside his wife at the family-owned convenience store and gas station. On April 17, 2025, a dispute over an alleged theft escalated into a fatal shooting that left a community in mourning.
The incident began when a customer, identified as 21-year-old Jaelynn Lowen, reportedly became agitated after being asked for identification while attempting to purchase cigarettes and his electronic payment failed. Lowen then left the store with unpaid items.
Patel followed Lowen into the parking lot to confront him. In an attempt to prevent Lowen from leaving, Patel reportedly stood in front of his blue Honda Odyssey van. Surveillance footage from the scene captured the moments that followed, showing Lowen exiting his vehicle and shooting Patel multiple times. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 12:41 p.m., where they found Patel with gunshot wounds. He was transported to SOVAH Danville, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Danville Police Department quickly launched an investigation, utilizing the city's new license plate reader system to help identify the suspect's vehicle. Thanks to tips from the public, the Honda Odyssey was located on Halifax Road. The investigation led police to identify Jaelynn Lowen as the primary suspect. A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of second-degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police also arrested another 21-year-old man, Keontae Tarpley, in Danville, charging him as an accessory after the fact.
A few days later, on Sunday, April 20, authorities apprehended Jaelynn Lowen in Louisiana. He is awaiting extradition back to Danville to face the charges against him. During a subsequent bond hearing, more details of the altercation emerged. A judge denied bond for Lowen, ensuring he remains in custody. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the coming month. The death of Pinakin Patel, a husband and father of two, has been described as a senseless act of violence, deeply affecting his family and the local community.
