Tragic Death of Indian Student in Philadelphia: Family Claims Premeditated Trap

The family of Anshul Kuncha, an Indian student shot dead while delivering pizza in Philadelphia, claims he was lured into a trap. They are seeking assistance for the repatriation of his body as investigations continue into the circumstances of his death. Local police are examining surveillance footage and have recovered shell casings, but no arrests have been made yet. The family hopes for a swift process to conduct his last rites in India.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 7, 2026, 11:37 IST

Family's Allegations Following the Shooting

The relatives of Anshul Kuncha, a 28-year-old Indian student fatally shot while delivering pizza in Philadelphia, have accused the circumstances surrounding his death of being a deliberate setup. Anshul's sister, Tanvi, expressed her belief that the pizza delivery was a ruse intended to lure him to a deserted location. She stated, 'He was instructed to deliver pizza in an abandoned area, which we later discovered was a trap. There was no one there; it was designed solely to kill him. We are left in the dark about their motives. They took my brother's life.'

The family also disclosed that Anshul had previously experienced a robbery in the U.S., where he lost his chain, mobile phone, and cash. Anshul had relocated to the United States in 2023 to pursue a Master's degree in Business Administration and was working as a pizza delivery driver to support his studies.

In light of this tragedy, the family has reached out to both Central and State authorities for assistance in hastening the repatriation of his remains. Relatives expect that U.S. officials will release the body on Monday, and they are hopeful that the process will be expedited so that Anshul's last rites can be conducted in India without unnecessary delays.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the shooting continues in Philadelphia. Local police reported that Anshul was shot shortly after completing a late-night delivery to the Raymond Rosen Homes public housing complex in North Philadelphia. Officers arrived shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Friday and found him with a gunshot wound to the head.

Authorities later determined that the apartment associated with the pizza order was unoccupied. Inside, they discovered untouched pizza boxes and a delivery bag, raising further questions about the nature of the order. Surveillance footage reportedly captured two individuals dressed in dark clothing trailing Kuncha just before the shooting, although the actual incident was not recorded. Police have collected shell casings from the scene and are tracing the phone number used to place the pizza order as part of their investigation. No arrests have been made yet, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.