On Saturday night, June 29, 2024, Dahal Umesh, a 41-year-old father from Nashville, Tennessee was tragically killed outside a local Topgolf establishment while trying to defuse an escalating argument.
The Nashville resident and member of the local Nepali community was attending a concert put on by the Nashville Nepalese Association at the time of the incident. The event was taking place on the lower level of Topgolf’s Cowan Street location, where Umesh was enjoying a performance by the Nepali rock band, “Mantra.”
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) stated that the disagreement moved to the parking area, where Umesh attempted to intervene. In the process, he was struck and fell, hitting his head on the pavement. While down, he was repeatedly kicked. He was then transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.
The MNPD identified Bishal Rai, a 26-year-old Antioch resident, as the main suspect. He was arrested at his residence and initially charged with aggravated assault. However, following Umesh’s death, the charge was elevated to criminal homicide. Rai, who was previously charged with felony aggravated assault-strangulation but had the case dismissed, is currently held without bond awaiting a court hearing.
The tragic event has left Umesh’s wife, Damanta Kafley Dahal, and their two young daughters bereft. Family and friends, still reeling from the shocking incident, remember Umesh as a man of kindness. “He was always the first to step in and help,” a family friend remarked. “We are devastated by his loss.”
What was planned to be a night of community togetherness and celebration turned into a horrifying event with the violent attack that led to Umesh’s death. The MNPD is committed to the ongoing investigation and is actively seeking to identify other participants in the assault. An MNPD spokesperson affirmed, “The investigation is ongoing, and we are committed to bringing all those responsible to justice.”
In the wake of the tragedy, the community is rallying behind Umesh’s family, offering sympathy and support. A memorial fund has been established to help cover funeral expenses and provide ongoing aid to his wife and children.