Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA: A violent domestic incident in the US state of Georgia early Friday morning resulted in the deaths of four people, including an Indian national, after a family disagreement allegedly turned deadly at a home in Lawrenceville, officials confirmed. Three children who were present during the shooting survived by hiding inside a closet, and one of them successfully contacted emergency responders.
According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, Gwinnett County police were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court at around 2.30 am local time following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers discovered four adults inside the house with gunshot injuries. All four victims were declared dead at the scene.
Children hid inside closet, one called 911
Investigators stated that three children aged seven, 10, and 12 were inside the home when the shooting occurred. In an effort to stay safe, the children hid together in a closet. Police said the 12-year-old managed to dial 911 and share key information, allowing officers to reach the location within minutes.
The children were unharmed and were later placed under the care of a relative.
Because police arrived swiftly and found the suspect’s vehicle parked in the driveway, K-9 units were deployed to search nearby areas. A police dog tracked the suspect to a wooded area close to the house, where he was taken into custody without resistance.
Suspect and victims identified
Authorities identified the suspect as Vijay Kumar, 51, a resident of Atlanta. He has been charged with four counts each of malice murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault, along with one count of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.
The victims were identified as Kumar’s wife, Meenu Dogra, 43, also from Atlanta, and three relatives living in Lawrenceville: Gourav Kumar, 33, Nidhi Chander, 37, and Harish Chander, 38.
Police said a dispute reportedly began between Kumar and Dogra at their Atlanta residence. The couple then traveled with their 12-year-old child to the Brook Ivy Court home, where the other victims lived with two children. Investigators noted that the exact reason for the argument, why they went to the Lawrenceville residence, and what triggered the shooting remain unclear.
Calling the incident deeply distressing, Gwinnett County Police Corporal Angela Carter said it was an extremely tragic event, especially given that children were present in the home when the violence occurred.
Indian mission reacts
The Consulate General of India in Atlanta confirmed that an Indian national was among those killed and stated that the shooting stemmed from an alleged family dispute. The mission expressed its condolences to the families affected and said the accused had been arrested. It added that all possible assistance was being provided to the grieving relatives.
