http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2009-07-28/story/refugee_killed_in_jacksonville_robbery_moved_to_us_five_months_ago

Refugee killed in Jacksonville robbery moved to U.S. five months ago

He was shot at an apartment complex off a crime-ridden area of Philips Highway.

By Jim Schoettler Story updated at 6:28 AM on Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2009

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union
Tika Adhikari, 65, from Bhutan holds photo of his son Hari who was killed Sunday night.

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union
Refugees from the country of Bhutan gather Monday morning around the blood stain on the asphalt at Stonemont Village Apartments as they mourn the death of Hari Adhikari, 21, who was shot and killed during a robbery Sunday night. He had spent 17 years in a Nepalese refugee camp before coming to Jacksonville and was described as excited to be living in the U.S.

TIP LINE

Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 630-0500 or First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS) to remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards. Or e-mail JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org or rewards @fccrimestoppers.com.

Tika Adhikari stared in disbelief Monday morning at a large circle of dried blood in the parking lot only feet from his Jacksonville apartment.

It was the blood of his 21-year-old son, Hari, who only a few hours earlier took a robber’s bullet point blank. It was the blood of the family’s rock, an immigrant determined to help his Bhutanese parents overcome a language barrier and support them through hard work.

Adhikari, 65, was resettled in Jacksonville with his wife and son five months ago from a Nepalese refugee camp. They once hoped for a safe and happy life. His simple request now: To see his son’s face one last time.

Adhikari is at least the 19th immigrant slain in the Jacksonville area in the past five years, most in robberies. His killer remains free.

Karen Croke works in the office of World Relief, the refugee resettlement group that brought the Adhikaris to Jacksonville from South Asia. Croke said she is disheartened to see immigrants freed from oppression meet with such violence.

“To think that you had a part of bringing someone here to make a better life for themselves and this happens, it’s awful,” Croke said.

Adhikari was robbed of his wallet and a cell phone during the attack shortly before midnight Sunday. The slaying occurred at the Stonemont Village Apartments off Belair Road, just east of Philips Highway in a crime-ridden area of South Metro.

Adhikari’s brother-in-law said he screamed as he saw the attack from his bedroom window. Adhikari had just left his brother-in-law’s apartment and phoned him from across the parking lot to come to his home just before the shooting.

The brother-in-law said he saw the shirtless gunman pointing a gun at Adhikari’s chest while Adhikari held his hands up. The brother-in-law heard a shot and saw the victim collapse.

The brother-in-law called 911 but said he had to call back twice because he was unable to communicate with dispatchers. He said he saw the killer casually walk off.

Adhikari was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother-in-law is not being identified by the Times-Union because no arrests have been made.

Polite man, hard worker

Adhikari’s family and friends described Hari as a polite, respectful man who was excited to be living in the United States. He and his parents spent 17 years in their Nepalese refugee camp before being resettled. They were later joined by Adhikari’s brother and sister-in-law. Another brother remains behind in Nepal.

The family previously fled Bhutan, near Nepal, because of political strife. About 60 Bhutanese families from the same Nepalese refugee camps have been resettled in Jacksonville since last year.

Adhikari began working at a nearby Wal-Mart about two weeks ago and was attending Florida Community College at Jacksonville to better his English. He dreamed of continuing his education, though unsure of what he ultimately wanted to do, his family and friends said.

Dozens of subdued people from the Bhutanese community gathered outside in the complex and the family’s apartment to offer their condolences Monday. Some expressed outrage at the slaying of another immigrant in Jacksonville.

“It’s unimaginable how this could happen,” said Dilli Mishra, a friend of the victim.

Yagya Dahal, 23, was neighbors with Adhikari at their refugee camp and reunited with his friend when they moved to Jacksonville. Dahal said he suspects some refugees may be reluctant to resettle in the United States after learning about such attacks.

“What do they think now?” Dahal said.

Times-Union writer John Leacock contributed to this report.

jim.schoettler@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4385