Teenager arrested for murder of American Malayali

A 15-year old has been arrested by police in America in connection with the murder of Sajan Mathew, 52, who was killed during an armed robbery at his one-dollar shop in Dallas, Texas. Since the accused is a minor, no personal details have been released although the murder of Sajan alias Saji has shocked the Malayali diaspora in Dallas.

According to reports, the robber barged into the shop around 1:40 PM on Wednesday and opened fire at Sajin who was at the counter after demanding money. Police said the incident took place at Victoria's Beauty Supply in the 1800 block of North Galloway Avenue in a strip shopping centre. Although police officers rushed Sajan to the hospital immediately, his life could not be saved.

The shop remained closed after the marriage of Sajan's daughter, but he continued to open it twice a week. It was on one of these weekly openings that the attack occurred, an acquaintance wrote on Facebook in memorial of the deceased.

Sajan Mathew was a native of Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta, from where he migrated in Kuwait and then to the United States of America in 2005. He is survived by two children and his wife Mini, who works as a nurse in the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital. Sajan was one of the partners of the beauty supply store in Mesquite city. He is son of late CP Mathew and Saramma at Cherukol in Pathanamthitta.