07-02-2025
What we know about Shekhar Chapagai, one of the victims in the New Albany mass shooting
Shekhar Chapagai, who was the youngest of 11 siblings, had a growing family of his own. He had a 5-year-old daughter and was expecting another girl soon.
Chapagai, 30, was one of the two people killed in Tuesday night's mass shooting at KDC/One, a cosmetics manufacuring and warehouse facility in New Albany. He died late Wednesday and his name was released Thursday morning by the Franklin County coroner.
Chapagai's wife, Muna Baniya, wrote on a GoFundMe page published Thursday afternoon that he lived a life 'full of laughter, love and generosity.'
'Losing him has left a void that can never be filled, and as I prepare to bring our baby into the world without him by my side, I am faced with overwhelming emotional and financial challenges,' Baniya wrote. 'He was the rock of our family, always putting us first and working hard to build a future for our children.'
Reached by The Dispatch on Thursday, Chapagai's brother, Hari, said the family is "managing everything right now with what to do next" and declined to comment further at this time.
With heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Shekhar chapagai. He was suburb shot at work place and was struggling...
Posted by Padham Baneya on Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Chapagai was born in a refugee camp in eastern Nepal in 1995, the youngest of four brothers and seven sisters. He and his family moved to Colorado in 2009 when he was a teenager, and he attended high school in the Denver area. He has been in the Columbus area since 2016.
In the GoFundMe, Baniya wrote that she set up the fundraiser "to provide stability for our children" and cover immediate expenses as well as their education in the future, "ensuring they have the security their father worked so hard to provide."
Sudarshan Pyakurel, executive director of the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio organization, wrote in a statement posted to Facebook that one of the victims is part of the Bhutanese American community, 'making this loss even more personal for us.'
'This incident underscores the critical importance of workplace safety and the responsibility of both employers and local authorities to protect all employees. We urge the city of New Albany to thoroughly investigate this tragedy and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future,' Pyakurel wrote.
'In these challenging times, it's essential for our community to remain vigilant and support one another. Let us come together to honor the victims and work toward a safer environment for all.'
Chapagai died Wednesday evening at approximately 8:30 p.m. at Mount Carmel East Hospital, according to the Franklin County Coroner's Office. Another victim, identified Thursday afternoon as 38-year-old Kyle Vaver of Pickerington, died inside the KDC/One facility. Four others were wounded.
Prosecutors have charged Bruce Reginald Foster III, who was an employee at KDC/One, with aggravated murder. Additional charges will be filed against Foster, whose bond has been set at $20 million at the request of prosecutors during his arraignment Thursday afternoon in Licking County.
Dispatch reporter Amani Bayo contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Who is Shekhar Chapagai, victim in New Albany shooting?
