Imagine grinding through a master’s degree, juggling part-time gigs, and being this close to the finish line—only for it all to end in a flash. That’s the gut-wrenching story of Gampa Praveen Kumar, a 27-year-old from Telangana who was chasing his Data Science dreams at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His dad, Raghavulu, dropped a heartbreaking bombshell: “He was about to finish his course in four months.” Four months! Praveen had popped back to India in December 2024, hugged his fam, and jetted back to the US in January 2025—only to get caught in a suspected robbery that ended with bullets. What’s the deal here? Another tragic stat in the US crime spree, or a wake-up call for Indian students abroad? Let’s unpack this mess—tears, stats, and all.
The Main Scoop: What We Know and Why It Hits Hard
This ain’t just a news blip—it’s a story that’s got layers, fam. Here’s the full tea on Praveen’s life, death, and the bigger picture, broken down into bites.
1. Who Was Gampa Praveen Kumar? The Dreamer Next Door
Praveen wasn’t some random dude—he was that guy from Keshampet Mandal, Rangareddy district, Telangana, who made it big. After smashing his BTech in Hyderabad, he yeeted to the US in August 2023 for an MS in Data Science at UW-Milwaukee. Picture this: late-night coding seshes, part-time hustle at a local store, and a fam back home rooting for him. His dad said Praveen was “about to join a regular job and settle down”—four months from the finish line, y’all. He even swung by India over the holidays, chilling with his folks before heading back in January. Dude was on track—until he wasn’t.
2. The Fatal Night: Robbery or Something Sketchier?
Fast forward to March 5, 2025—Praveen’s at his part-time gig in Milwaukee, probably counting down the hours. Then, bam—robbers roll in. According to fam and friends, it’s a suspected stick-up gone wrong. His cousin Arun told PTI, “Some say he was shot by unidentified assailants at the store,” but the details are murkier than a foggy Himalayan trek. His dad, Raghavulu, got a WhatsApp call at 2:50 AM IST—missed it. Called back? A stranger picked up, asking for Praveen’s birth date. Sketchy AF, right? Later, police confirmed: Praveen took bullets and didn’t make it. No official word on the exact whys or hows yet—Milwaukee PD’s keeping it tight-lipped—but the vibe screams tragedy with a side of chaos.
3. The Stats Sting: Indian Students in the US Crosshairs
This isn’t a one-off horror flick—it’s a sequel nobody asked for. Praveen’s the third Telangana student gunned down in the US in months:
- November 2024: Nukarapu Sai Teja, 22, shot outside a Chicago store.
- January 2025: Another Telangana kid, details fuzzy, but same grim ending.
- March 2025: Praveen joins the list.
Posts on X are screaming about it—“When will this stop?!” cries @rapid_reveal. Stats back the panic: Indian students (over 200,000 in the US per 2024 Open Doors Report) are increasingly caught in violent crime spikes—robberies, shootings, you name it. Milwaukee’s crime rate? Up 10% from 2023, says local data. Coincidence? Nope. Praveen’s story’s a stat with a soul, and it’s hitting too close to home.
4. Family’s Heartbreak: “I Missed His Call”
Raghavulu’s words cut deep: “He was on his way to his part-time job when he was shot dead by robbers.” That missed WhatsApp call? Haunting. “We tried calling back, but someone else answered,” he told ANI, thinking it was a scam at first. Then the truth dropped—friends got calls too, urging them to the scene. Praveen’s sister, G Gayathri, added to TOI, “He was due to finish in two months”—a slight mismatch with Dad’s four, but either way, he was so close. The fam’s now begging local pols for help to bring his body back to Telangana—imagine that pain, miles away, helpless.
5. Consulate and Community: Stepping Up, But Is It Enough?
The Indian Consulate in Chicago jumped in quick, posting on X: “We are saddened by the untimely death of Praveen Kumar Gampa… helping with all possible support.” They’re liaising with UW-Milwaukee and the fam—cool, but does it fix the bigger issue? BRS leader K Kavitha chimed in, calling it “very unfortunate” and pushing Telangana and Central govs to fast-track getting Praveen home. X users like @ichkipichki are buzzing too—outrage mixed with prayers. The community’s rallying, but the vibe’s heavy: how many more before something changes?
The Wrap: A Life Cut Short, A Call to Wake Up
Praveen Kumar Gampa was four months from his Data Science MS, a job, a future—then poof, gone. Shot dead in a Milwaukee store, likely by robbers, his story’s a brutal reminder of the risks Indian students face chasing the American dream. Telangana’s mourning its third loss in months, and the stats don’t lie—crime’s spiking, and these kids are in the crossfire. His dad’s “he was so close” hits like a truck, and while the Consulate’s on it, the bigger fix feels miles off. Praveen’s not just a headline—he’s a wake-up call. Wanna do something? Push for student safety talks, or hit up X to keep the convo alive. This can’t be the new normal.
