In a shocking case of alleged domestic dispute, a man was arrested in the United States for allegedly shooting his wife and three relatives dead inside a home in the wee hours of Friday (January 23). Among the four killed, one was an Indian national.
The incident took place at the Gwinnett County in Atlanta's Lawrenceville.
The police responded to reports of "shots fired" at a home where the four victims were found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene.
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The suspect was identified as 51-year-old Vijay Kumar. His wife, 43-year-old Meemu Dogra, was also among those killed in the shooting. The other victims were identified as Gourav Kumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37) and Harish Chander (38).
Based on their names, the victims seemed to be of Indian origin. However, officials have only confirmed the nationality of one person.
How the events unfolded
Vijay Kumar, along with his spouse Meemu Dogra resided in Atlanta, as per the Gwinnett County Police. The couple and their son, aged 12, travelled to their relatives on Brook Ivy Court (Gourav, Nidhi and Harish). It was discovered in the investigation that Kumar and Dogra had a disagreement prior to leaving Atlanta to visit their family. Gourav, Nidhi and Harish were also living with two minor children, aged 7 and 9.
Kids call 911
According to the investigation, three kids aged 12, 7 and 9 were found hiding in a closet when police responded to the scene. They were hiding to protect themselves and it was the suspect's 12-year-old son who called the police, who arrived at the scene to discover four deceased individuals.
The local police stated that there are no additional suspects at this time and the motive continues to be investigated, although it appeared to be related to family issues.
Police stated that the suspect was located not far from the residence and taken into custody.
In a post on X, the Gwinnett County Police informed, "Kumar has been charged with four counts of Aggravated Assault, four counts of Felony Murder, four counts of Malice Murder, one count of Cruelty to Children in the 1st degree, and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the 3rd degree."
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Indian Consulate expresses grief
Condoling the incident, the Consulate General of India in Atlanta informed that the accused had been arrested and all possible assistance was being provided to the bereaved family.
In a post on X, it said, "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 alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is 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 alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family.@MEAIndia @IndianEmbassyUS
— India in Atlanta (@CGI_Atlanta) January 23, 2026
Motive unknown
The Police further informed that the motive behind the incident remained unknown. "It is unknown at this time what the argument was about, why they came to the residence, or what led up to the incident," it said.
