Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of Nepali Student Muna Pandey in Houston

Houston police have arrested the suspect in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Nepali student Muna Pandey. The arrest was made during a traffic stop on Wednesday evening, following several tips from the public. While the suspect’s identity remains undisclosed, police have taken a statement from him. No charges have been filed at this time.

The photo of the suspect, captured from CCTV footage at 9:48 PM on Saturday, August 24, was released by the police earlier on Wednesday.

Muna was found dead in her Houston apartment on Monday evening. Responding to a call at 5:35 PM, police discovered her with fatal gunshot wounds. The incident occurred on West Airport Boulevard. Her body has been sent for an autopsy.

Originally from Bhojpur, Nepal, Pandey had been studying at Houston Community College since 2021. Her mother, Anita Pandey Adhikari, resides in Kathmandu, Nepal. Pandey was the only child in her family.

Her phone had reportedly been switched off since Saturday, leading to suspicions that the incident may have occurred over the weekend.

She was raised by her single mother, Anita. Muna had come to the United States in 2021 to pursue her graduate studies.

Anita Adhikari, who faced significant challenges raising her daughter alone after being rejected by her husband, worked tirelessly to provide for Muna. Despite the hardships, Anita managed to send her daughter to the United States to pursue her dreams.

In Houston, Muna initially lived with a friend from Nepal before moving into her own apartment.

Devastated by her daughter’s untimely death, Anita has appealed to authorities to investigate the murder and bring the perpetrator to justice. She has also requested the support of the Nepali community in the United States in her quest for justice. Muna’s friends and members of the Nepali community in the USA are also calling for justice.