A recovery assistance fundraiser has been set up for the Branford business owner who sustained a gunshot wound during the April 13 active shooter incident on Main Street. Organizer Sarah Rauth developed the online fundraiser at GoFundMe to assist the family of the victim, Ashwin Patel, an owner of Shoreline Wine & Spirits at 181 Main St.

Patel was struck by a bullet while he was outside at a neighboring business, Pepe's Service Station, at 171 Main St. He was brought into the station while Branford police and fire emergency personnel coordinated a safe removal by ambulance during the active shooter incident, which began shortly before noon.

"Ashwin was immediately hospitalized and brought into surgery to remove the bullet and fragments that hit him. It sounds like he will make a full recovery, but not without weeks (maybe months) of recovery.  This fund is being set up to help Ashwin and his family cover the cost of medical expenses and lost wages from having to close their store while Ashwin recovers," Rauth noted at Ashwin Patel Recovery Fund GoFundMe page.

The fundraiser, which has a goal of $20,000, was set up on April 14. Donations had reached $17,000 as of April 16.