Jaahnavi Kandula was an Indian student from Telengana who was killed earlier this year after getting hit by a police cruiser in Seattle, USA, find out more about her below and her family and parents
Just recently, a disturbing bodycam footage surfaced online where viewers can see a deputy from the Seattle Police Department laughing and joking about the girl’s death on a phone call.
Who was Jaahnavi Kandula of Northeast University Seattle, biography, age, family, parents, Instagram, LinkedIn and video
"She is dead….(laughed)…just write a cheque $11,000…She was 26 anyway…She had limited value" ~ Daniel Auderer, Vice President of the Seattle Police Officers Guild on the death of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula.
Jaahnavi was raised by a single mother in Andhra Pradesh.… pic.twitter.com/cnB78Ap2Ap
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 14, 2023
The footage of the officer making fun of Jaahnavi has gained widespread backlash, with the Indian Consulate stepping in with a strong reaction as well.
Jaahnavi Kandula biography and age
Jaahnavi Kandula was an Indian student from the state of Telengana who was studying in Seattle, USA. She was just 23 years old at the time of her death and she was a student of Northeast University. Jaahnavi arrived in the US from Bangalore back in 2021 to pursue her Master’s Degree in Information System. She was all set to graduate later this year in December.
Jaahnavi Kandula killed by police cruiser
The incident happened when the 23-year-old student was crossing the road at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street on January 23, 2023. Following the accident, Jaahnavi was rushed to Harborview Medical Center. However, hospital authorities pronounced her dead upon her arrival.
She was born to her father, Srinivas Kandula, and her mother, whose name hasn’t been publicly disclosed in Andhra Pradesh.
According to reports, Seattle officer Kevin Dave was the officer who hit her with the speeding car. Following the incident, a bodycam footage of the incident surfaced online, showing Seattle Police Officers’ Guild Vice President Daniel Auderer who was making fun of the girl’s death. Daniel was on the call with the guild’s president, Mike Solan.
In the footage viewers can hear the officer saying, “she had limited value”. He further stated that Dave was “going 50 (miles an hour)”, and stated how “that’s not out of control” for a trained driver.
Jaahnavi Kandula’s uncle speaks out
After Kandula’s tragic death, her uncle Ashok Mandula spoke out on the tragic incident. Ashok, who currently lives in Texas, told:
The family has nothing to say… Except I wonder if these men’s daughters or granddaughters have value. A life is a life.”
Seattle Police Department release a statement
Following the tragic death of Jaahnavi Kandula, the Seattle Police Department have released a statement. According to the statement, the department said that the bodycam footage
“was identified in the routine course of business by a department employee, who, concerned about the nature of statements heard on that video, appropriately escalated their concerns through their chain of command.”
The SPD further stated how they have been in touch with the family of the victim and will continue to honor their request for privacy. The department ended the statement by extending their deepest sympathy.