On August 13, 2024, 36-year-old Mainank "Mike" Patel, owner of the Tobacco House store at 2580 Airport Road in Salisbury, North Carolina, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery. The incident occurred around 11:18 a.m. when the Rowan County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 hang-up call from the store. Upon arrival, deputies found Patel suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was initially transported to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and later transferred to Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Surveillance footage revealed a tall, slender individual dressed in black shorts, a black hoodie, a black ski mask, and white Nike sneakers with burgundy logos fleeing the scene with a handgun. An extensive search involving K-9 units and a North Carolina State Highway Patrol helicopter was conducted. Later that evening, authorities apprehended a juvenile male suspect in connection with the shooting. Due to his age, the suspect's identity was initially withheld. Subsequent reports identified the suspect as 16-year-old Jhack Aaron Pless, who is being charged as an adult with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $850,000 secured, and he is currently held at the Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center in Concord.
Patel, known affectionately as "Mike" within the community, was originally from Vadodara, India, and had moved to the United States in 2007 to study computer science. He managed the Tobacco House store and was well-regarded for his kindness and generosity. He is survived by his wife, Ami, who was seven-and-a-half months pregnant at the time of his death, and their 5-year-old daughter. The local community has expressed profound grief over his passing, with many customers and neighbors mourning the loss of a man they considered family. A fundraiser was established to support Patel's family during this difficult time.
