On February 15, 2015, Amit Patel, a 28-year-old Indian-American who had been married for one year, was working at his family’s business, Roseway Liquors, on Lyons Avenue in Irvington, New Jersey, when a man entered the store, forced him to the floor, and shot him in the head at close range. Patel was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined the killing was committed to prevent Patel from testifying. Patel had been the sole witness to an armed robbery at the same store on Halloween 2013, and authorities say the shooter returned to silence him. The man identified in connection with the slaying was Rick King of Newark; he was arrested and charged in the case. The prosecution used statements Patel made before his death as part of the investigation.