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Man Held On $4m Bond For Allegedly Killing 2 Indians

A P Kamath in Chicago

When the district attorney's office last week asked a $ 4 million bond for Ricardo Londell Harris, suspected of killing two Indians working for a liquor shop in May, they certainly knew he would not be able to get out before the trial was over. Considered one of the biggest flight risks in America, and described as a career criminal, Harris also faces robbery and assault charges in several states.

In fact, the authorities say that he killed Dipak Patel, 40 and Ambalal Patel, 35, a week after he escaped from a Michigan jail. He allegedly assaulted an escorting officer on the way back from a medical examination, seized his .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and fled with the police vehicle. He dumped it, carjacked a man, and landed in Chicago's Oaklawn suburbs, and charged into Extra Value liquor shop.

He reportedly made away with $ 1,000, not before he shot and killed the Patels. The two clerks made about $ 8 an hour. He also wounded two women customers, one of whom identified him after the arrests.

Charged with two first degree murders, two counts of attempted murder and one armed robbery, 34-year-old Harris may not come alive from his prison cell if found guilty of the multiple charges.

The murder of two clerks shocked the Indian community in Chicago, just the way the murder of two Indian workers at a donut shop near Washington many months ago, had saddened the community.

"The American dream can turn into a nightmare for many immigrants who risk their lives working in shops in depressed and dangerous parts of big cities," says New Jersey patrol officer Bill Nathan.

In the past 18 months, an estimated dozen workers from the Indian subcontinent have been killed during robberies, over two dozen have been injured and dozens have been robbed, particularly those who work at newspaper kiosks early in the mornings. The assault on cabbies and livery drivers in New York and Chicago is an almost daily routine. Also vulnerable are the men who work at gas stations during the night shifts.

If Harris had not been nabbed, several Indian merchants were preparing to offer rewards for the information leading to the arrest and conviction of the alleged killer.

Investigators in Chicago said Harris might not have been nabbed so fast but for his profile on America's Most Wanted television program. The show profiled him on May 22 and June 5.

After the second broadcast the police received a positive tip from an anonymous source who said Harris was living in Charlotte, North Carolina under another name. He was also wanted in that state for an aggravated robbery committed in late July.

The FBI got involved immediately, and after a day's observation, nearly a dozen officers surrounded the house where Harris was hiding. Officials say he surrendered without a fight, and admitted to his true identity.

He was soon extradited to Illinois. There are suggestions that various charges against him in several states could be combined for the sake of one trial. If that is not possible, the murder charges will supercede the other charges.

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