By Okon Ekpenyong

On February 4, 2025, a tragic shooting at the KDC/One cosmetics warehouse in New Albany, Ohio, resulted in two fatalities: Shakhar Chapagail from the Bhutanese American community and 38-year-old Kyle Vaver from Pickerington. Four others were injured in the incident, which led to the swift apprehension of the suspect, Bruce Reginald Foster III.

On Wednesday, Chapagail died at Mount Carmel East, leaving behind a young child and a pregnant wife. A funeral service was held on February 7 in Reynoldsburg. Reynoldsburg Councilmember Bhuwan Pyakurel expressed community support, highlighting Chapagail’s vibrant participation in local events.

New Albany Police Chief Greg Jones praised the rapid response of law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of training for such situations.

Sudarshan Pyakurel, Executive Director of the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio, called for a comprehensive investigation to improve workplace safety.

Despite the tragedy, New Albany maintains a crime and safety score of B+, reflecting a 92% safety rate. Due to Intel’s microchip factory development, the city is growing as a technology hub, often called the Silicon Heartland.

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