At 17, man who killed Indian student in Kansas City had robbed woman at gunpoint
Marlin James Mack, who killed Indian student Sharath Koppu in Kansas City, was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree robbery, possession of a firearm as a juvenile and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
The man who killed 25-year-old Indian student Sharath Koppu in Kansas City had an extensive criminal background and was just 15 when he was first arrested, according to a media report.
Sharath Koppu was shot dead in the US during an armed robbery at a fast food restaurant in Kansas City where he worked. (AP File Photo)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Marlin James Mack, 25, who was shot dead on Sunday after shooting three Kansas City police officers, was first arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was 15 for breaking into cars and two years later he was held again for bringing a gun to school, the Kansas City Star reported.
{{^usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
At 17, he was sentenced to prison for five years for robbing a woman at gunpoint in front of her three small children.
Though Mack was once known as one of Tulsa’s most wanted robbers, Kansas City police were not aware of him before he became the lead suspect in the killing of Koppu, who hailed from Telangana.
Koppu, a University of Missouri-Kansas City student, was fatally shot on July 6 in the back during a suspected attempted robbery at a restaurant where he worked in Missouri.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
“At age 17 he (Mack) was pretty much a liar and misfit extraordinaire,” David Walker of the Tulsa Police Department, who had interviewed Mack in 2011, told the daily.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
“At age 17 he (Mack) was pretty much a liar and misfit extraordinaire,” David Walker of the Tulsa Police Department, who had interviewed Mack in 2011, told the daily.
{{/usCountry}}
For his first arrest, in 2009, Mack was charged with robbery by force.
Despite Mack’s young age, he already had a reputation for violence, the daily said quoting the police officer.
He was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree robbery, possession of a firearm as a juvenile and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
In March, 2015, Mack was released from prison. Just seven months later, he returned to prison for carrying a firearm after a former conviction of a felony. He was released in February, 2017.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Despite his extensive criminal record in Oklahoma, he had never come to the attention of Kansas City police. He became a person of interest in the shooting death of Koppu, a software engineer who had come to the US in January to pursue his master’s degree.
Mack’s father is serving a life sentence for shooting two people in the head in 2000.
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.
Get Latest News, breaking headlines, and top India News, and today real-time updates from across the nation. Stay informed on politics, government policies, crime, Today Weather, and major developments on Hindustan Times
Get Latest News, breaking headlines, and top India News, and today real-time updates from across the nation. Stay informed on politics, government policies, crime, Today Weather, and major developments on Hindustan Times
