Cincinnati, Ohio - In a devastating incident, 26-year-old Aaditya Adlakha, a fourth-year doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati Medical School, lost his life after being shot inside a car. Described as "sudden, tragic, and senseless" by the medical university, the incident occurred earlier this month.
On November 9, Cincinnati Police discovered Adlakha shot inside a vehicle that had crashed into a wall on the upper deck of the Western Hills Viaduct. ShotSpotter, a gunfire locator service, had reported gunfire in the area around 6:20 am. Passersby called 911 to report a vehicle with bullet holes and a person inside who had been shot.
Despite being transported to UC Medical Center in critical condition, Adlakha succumbed to his injuries two days later. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.
Andrew Filak, Senior Vice President of Health Affairs and Dean at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, expressed the deep impact of Adlakha's loss. Filak described Adlakha as "much-loved, exceedingly kind and humorous, intelligent and sharp." Adlakha's research focused on understanding neuroimmune communication and its potential contributions to pain and the inflammatory landscape in ulcerative colitis.
Adlakha, who hailed from north India, pursued his education in medicine, earning his bachelor's degree in Zoology from the University of Delhi in 2018 and a master's degree in physiology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 2020.
The medical school extended its deepest condolences, emphasizing the profound impact Adlakha had on his friends, colleagues, and the academic community. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation, with authorities working to unravel the details of this tragic event. The loss of this promising young scholar has left the community in mourning, highlighting the need for addressing senseless acts of violence.