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FREMONT — Friends and family of slain landlord Kulbushan "Joe" Gupta gathered in Fremont on Wednesday to remember a man whom police say was killed by his 94-year-old tenant in Oakland last week.

Gupta's wife, two sons, friends, and several local political dignitaries, including Fremont City Council members Anu Natarajan and Steve Cho, described Gupta as a caring man who always looked out for others and who contributed financially to many local and international causes.

They also said he was an integral part of the Indian-American community in Fremont and was the owner or part-owner of several properties, including the Peralta Plaza, where Wednesday's news conference was held.

"He was a good, decent family man," said former state Assemblyman John Dutra, who later called the killing a "senseless tragedy."

One son said he was still in a state of shock over Gupta's death. But for the most part, the relatives took the opportunity to describe the relationship that Gupta had with Frank Spillman, the man charged in the killing, and to scold the media for a negative portrayal of the victim.

"I wish we were here to celebrate the life that my dad lived, to celebrate the things he did for his family, friends and community," said son Rohan Gupta.

Widow Rupa Gupta said she was frustrated with the media's descriptions of the incident. Some reports have indicated that Spillman told police that he thought Gupta was trying to harm him,

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although police said there was no evidence of that.

"The media has totally tarnished his image," Rupa Gupta said. "He loved his tenants."

Gupta, who was born in India and later moved to Britain and Canada before coming to the United States, was killed May 1 at his East 12th Street apartment complex, a property where Spillman had lived for more than 25 years.

Police said Gupta went to Spillman's apartment, and that Spillman initially shot him in the arm, and then later shot him several times in the parking lot, even after Gupta already was on the ground.

Spillman, who then barricaded himself in his apartment for several hours, later told police that he thought Gupta was trying to poison him, that Gupta wanted to evict him, and that Gupta liked other tenants more than him, prosecutors said this week.

However, authorities have found no evidence to support Spillman's claims. In fact, they said Gupta and a handyman were at the property changing locks and doing routine maintenance when the shooting happened.

On Wednesday, Gupta's widow said she and her family also are perplexed by the killing.

"What came over him, why he did this, we do not know," she said.

Rohan Gupta said his father and Spillman had a strong friendship that spanned more than two decades.

"Mr. Spillman was a great friend of our family and he and my father had a harmonious relationship," he said. "Our family would bring (Spillman) food during the holidays, and we'd visit whenever (his) kids did something special."

Gupta's wife also spoke positively of Spillman. She also noted that Spillman had stayed at their home just four days before the killing.

"He came over and slept on our sofa," Rupa Gupta said.

Younger son Rohit Gupta said Spillman treated Kulbushan Gupta as if he were his own son. Rohit Gupta said if it were up to him and his family, they would not press charges against Spillman.

"Retribution and vengeance are not things my family stands for," he said. "There is nothing we can do to bring my father back."

Memorial services for Gupta are scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Holy Angels Cemetery in Hayward.

Staff writer Ben Aguirre Jr. can be reached at 510-353-7011 or baguirre@bayareanewsgroup.com.