Family of New Jersey man shot in road‑rage incident continues fight for his recovery

Thursday, April 9, 2026
VOORHEES, N.J. (WPVI) -- Nearly two years after a road rage shooting left Kishan Patel severely injured, his family has brought him home to Voorhees, New Jersey.

It's a victory for a family of fighters.

It is where they now provide round-the-clock care in a house that was transformed to meet his medical needs.

"You come to your home. Everything has changed. You have to get used to everything. We just want to make Kishan comfortable," his mother, Manjina Patel, said.

A prayer plays constantly in the background, a ritual the family has kept since May 17, 2024.



It was in the early morning hours that day when Patel was shot by off-duty NYPD officer Hieu Tran during a road rage encounter.

Authorities said Tran had been drinking and fired three shots, triggering a five-vehicle crash at Cooper Road and Route 73. One bullet struck Patel behind the ear.

Hieu Tran

William Farrington



"They told us to turn the machines off. Let him go," Manjina Patel said.

"He is a fighter and so are we," added his father, Himanshu Patel.



Over the last 23 months, the family has worked to support Kishan Patel's recovery.

"There's no doubt that he had severe brain damage, but the healthy parts that are in there are still in there, and that gives us hope," said Dan Gaughan, the fiancé of Kishan Patel's sister, Krishna.

Tran was sentenced to 10 years in state prison. During the trial, his attorney said he suffered from PTSD.

A former New York City police officer was sentenced to 10 years in state prison Monday afternoon for a shooting that left a New Jersey man brain damaged and paralyzed.



The Patel family and their attorney are now suing the City of New York and urging Mayor Zohran Mamdani to review the case and the NYPD's practices.



"He should step up, not only for what this police officer did, but because he is responsible for this police department," said Joseph Marrone, the family's attorney.

As litigation continues, the Patels say they remain focused on Kishan's progress and the hope they hold for what lies ahead. They plan to stay by his side throughout his fight.
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