Accused Jordan Andrade stabbed 24-year-old Varun Raj Pucha, a computer science student at Valparaiso University in Indiana, in the skull.
Andrade is accused of both aggravated violence and attempted murder.
Details of the attack on the Indian student on October 29
The accused, according to the police, entered the gym’s massage area and saw Pucha, whom he didn’t know but thought was “a little weird.” Andrade reported to the police that he behaved as he did because he felt frightened by Pucha.
The victim apparently stayed seated the entire time and made no attempt to make physical contact. The only time Pucha made physical contact was when Andrade started the attack and Pucha sought to push him away.
used a knife to kill Pucha out of self-defense: Andrade, who was accused of attacking the police, insisted that he acted in self-defense and described himself as a “defensive fighter” who used a knife to neutralize a threat.
He admitted to taking the knife out of his pocket—he usually uses it to open boxes at work.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the accused has entered a not guilty plea in front of the judge.