Indian-origin man shoots wife, three relatives in US over family dispute
3 kids hide in closet during shooting; suspect’s child makes 911 call
A 51-year-old Indian-origin man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his wife and three relatives in a suspected family dispute in the US state of Georgia, local authorities said.
The accused, Vijay Kumar, was taken into custody a short distance from the residence in Lawrenceville where the shooting occurred early Friday, Gwinnett County Police said in a social media post.
The police identified the victims as Kumar’s wife, Meemu Dogra (43), an Indian national, and three relatives — Gourav Cumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37) and Harish Chander (38).
Expressing grief over the incident, the Consulate General of India in Atlanta said the alleged shooter had been arrested and that all possible assistance was being extended to the bereaved family.
“We are deeply grieved by a tragic shooting incident linked to an alleged family dispute, in which an Indian national was among the victims,” the consulate said in a post on X.
According to the police, an argument reportedly began between Kumar and Dogra at their home in Atlanta, after which the couple travelled with their 12-year-old child to the residence of relatives on Brook Ivy Court in Lawrenceville.
Gourav Cumar, Nidhi Chander and Harish Chander lived at the house along with two other children aged seven and 10, the police said.
It was Kumar’s child who called 911 after the incident, authorities added. “It is unknown what the argument was about, why they came to the residence, or what led up to the incident,” the police said, noting that the motive remains under investigation but appears to be domestic-related.
Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court around 2.30 am following reports of gunfire inside the residence. On arrival, the police found four adults dead inside the home, all with apparent gunshot wounds. The three children present were found hiding in a closet and were unharmed.
Kumar has been charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, felony murder and malice murder, one count of cruelty to children in the first degree and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree.
