MIAMI – The city of Miami Police Department and friends of an international graduate student who was shot dead outside his Little Havana apartment over the weekend are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
Sciharia Aila Sai Kiran, 22, was shot and killed early Sunday morning outside the Miramar Apartments at 1043 SW Sixth Street.
Miami Police Sgt. Altarr Williams said Kiran was on the phone with a friend in Mississippi about 2:30 a.m. when the friend on the other end of the line heard a man tell the victim, "give me your phone."
"He don't have any enemies here. He don't have any other relations here. He only knows me and my friend," said Kiran's friend, Hari Katroth.
Katroth said earlier that night, all three had dinner and they remember when Kiran got a phone call and left the apartment.
"He's such a good person. He goes to school and he comes home. That's it," said Kiran's other friend, Krishna Katukam.
Kiran had recently begun a master's program at Atlantis University in Miami.
"This was very cold blooded, and it was very horrific and very sad that a young man will come here to America to try and further his education and help his family back in India -- so it's very unfortunate," said Williams.
Although police believe the shooting was the result of a robbery, Kiran still had his cellphone, jewelry and wallet with him when he was found dead.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. A reward of up to $3,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
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