ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Surveillance video shows the chilling moments the suspect in a homicide and police shootout, walks up to an innocent motel manager, and shoots him point-blank with no regard for human life.
Friends say Rakesh Bhagavan, who went by Rocky, was trying to help a woman in distress outside of the Pittsburgh Motel he managed. Friends say he heard a commotion and stepped out of his office to see what was going on.
“That’s the man he was,” friend, Dr. Frank Verri said. “He was a compassionate man, trying to dissolve situations.”
It’s not clear if Rocky knew the man who police say killed him, who had allegedly just shot at a woman he knew while she was trying to drive away. Her child was in the backseat at the time. She raced to a local autobody shop to get help.
Dr. Verri said Rocky was always there when friends needed him and he was true to his word. Police say his last words were to his alleged killer: “Are you alright, bud?”
Rocky was a husband and dad to three daughters - one in college and two in high school in the Montour School District.
Friends say Rocky was successfully rebuilding the reputation of the motel he managed and cared deeply about the people who stayed there.
“Rocky knew everyone there to the point where he would help people get out of a bad situation and get them into housing and back on their feet and rebuild careers,” Dr. Verri added.
Suspect, Stanely West, is now in critical condition. Investigators say after he shot a Pittsburgh detective, police returned fire, hitting him in the East Hills.
Verri wanted to share this message with men in our community.
“We have a serious male mental health crisis happening in this country where we feel, as men, if you’re disrespected or angry, you can pull a gun out and kill somebody,” Dr. Verri added. “This is the highest level of insanity.”
Rocky’s family is now leaning on each other and their faith as they get ready for Rocky’s funeral arrangements on Thursday.
“He wasn’t just a good man, he was a great man,” Dr. Verri said. “The world needs more men like Rocky.”
The woman whom police say West also shot and wounded before Rocky was killed is at a local hospital in critical condition. Her child was in the backseat and was not injured.
The Montour School District sent Channel 11 the following statement:
“The Montour School District family was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of Rakesh Bhagavan, one of our cherished parents of two current and one Montour graduate.
We send our most sincere and deepest condolences to the Bhagavan family and all who are grieving this sudden and tragic loss. When one member of our community hurts, we all feel it. We are here to support them in any way we can in the days and weeks ahead."
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