Srinivas Kuchibhotla died shortly after Wednesday's attack at a bar in Olathe, Kansas. His friend Alok Madasani, also from India, and an American were hurt.
Adam Purinton has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder.
The killing dominated news bulletins in India and social media, where some blamed Donald Trump's presidency.
Mr Kuchibhotla's wife, Sunayana Dumala, described her husband as a "loveable soul".
Speaking at a news conference, she described the US as "the country that he loved so much" and called the shooting a "hate crime".
