US: Indian man arrested for killing wife, three relatives in Atlanta Suburb, kids hit in closet
PTC Web Desk: An Indian-origin man has been taken into custody in the United States after allegedly shooting dead his wife and three other family members during what the police have described as a domestic dispute.
The accused has been identified as 51-year-old Vijay Kumar, who was arrested after a manhunt early Friday morning in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Authorities said the incident came to light around 2.30 am when the police received an emergency call reporting gunfire at a residence on Brook Ivy Court.
When officers reached the location, they found four adults inside the house, all suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, according to local media reports. Kumar’s car was still parked in the driveway, prompting the police to deploy K-9 units to search the surrounding area. A police dog later tracked him to a nearby wooded stretch, where he was arrested.
The Gwinnett County Police Department identified the victims as Kumar’s wife Meemu Dogra (43), a resident of Atlanta, and three relatives, Gourav Cumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37) and Harish Chander (38), all from Lawrenceville.
Investigators revealed that three children were inside the house at the time of the shooting, including Kumar’s 12-year-old child, who reportedly hid in a closet with two other minors and escaped unharmed. The police said it was Kumar and Dogra’s child who dialled 911 and provided critical information, enabling officers to reach the scene within minutes.
According to preliminary findings, an argument broke out between Kumar and his wife at their Atlanta home. The couple then travelled with their child to the Brook Ivy Court residence, where the three other victims lived along with two children aged seven and 10. The shooting reportedly occurred shortly after.
All children present during the incident were unharmed and have since been placed in the care of a family member, the police confirmed.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Indian Consulate in Atlanta expressed grief and said assistance is being provided to the affected 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,” the mission said in a statement posted on X.
Vijay Kumar now faces multiple serious charges, including four counts each of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault, along with charges related to cruelty to children. Investigations are ongoing.
- With inputs from agencies
