FALLS CHURCH, VA – The senseless murder of a graduate student 300 miles away has both stunned and saddened the educational community at Stratford University in suburban Washington, D.C.

Arun Kumar Narote, an MS candidate in the university’s software engineering department was shot and killed Monday, July 12 during a robbery at Norman’s Grocery and Deli in Bridgeport, CT, despite offering no resistance and fully cooperating with his assailants’ demands.  “He was living here with friends and working in the small grocery store to earn money for school,” said Bridgeport police captain James Viadero.  According to Bridgeport police, the department is “working diligently to find the persons responsible for this homicide.”

The news has sent a ripple of both sorrow and support through the Northern Virginia campus where Narote was to have earned his Masters in October. “Arun was one of our most popular students who epitomized the good nature of our student body here at Stratford,” said Dr. Richard R. Shurtz, President of Stratford University.  “The entire school is in a state of shock right now, as we try to come to terms with this senseless act.  Our thoughts are prayers go out to Arun’s family and friends.”

The school will hold a memorial service for Narote later this month with details presently in the works.  Dr. Shurtz also announced today that the University will institute a scholarship fund in Narote’s memory for students in the software engineering sequence.  “Details will be announced as they are finalized.”

A native of Hyderabad in South Central India, Narote earned his undergraduate degree from Indra Reddy Memorial Engineering College in Hyderabad.  He was living in Connecticut while commuting weekly to Stratford.