Police in Georgia have arrested a man accused of killing his wife and three relatives in a horrific domestic incident that saw terrified children hiding in a closet before calling emergency services.
Four Victims Found with Gunshot Wounds
Vijay Kumar, a 51-year-old resident of Atlanta, has been charged with four counts of murder alongside aggravated assault and cruelty to children charges following the deadly episode on January 23rd.
Officers from the Gwinnett County Police Department were dispatched to Brook Ivy Court in Lawrenceville during the early morning hours after receiving reports of gunfire inside a residence. Upon arrival, they discovered the bodies of four adults, all bearing apparent gunshot wounds.
Victims Identified as Family Members
The victims have been identified as Kumar's wife, 43-year-old Meemu Dogra, along with 33-year-old Gourav Cumar, 37-year-old Nidhi Chander, and 38-year-old Harish Chander.
Three children were also located inside the home, found unharmed while hiding in a closet. Kumar was apprehended a short distance from the scene and taken into custody without incident.
Argument Preceded Fatal Shooting
Investigators believe the tragedy began with an argument between Dogra and Kumar at their Atlanta home. Following this dispute, the couple traveled to the Brook Ivy Court residence with their 12-year-old child.
Cumar and the Chanders were present at the location along with two other children aged seven and ten. Police confirmed that the 12-year-old was the individual who placed the emergency call to 911.
Motive Remains Under Investigation
The specific nature of the argument that sparked the violence remains unclear, as does the reason the family gathered at the Lawrenceville residence or what exactly triggered the fatal shooting.
Kumar now faces an extensive list of charges including four counts of aggravated assault, four counts of felony murder, four counts of malice murder, one count of first-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.
International Community Responds
The Indian Mission in Atlanta issued a statement expressing profound grief over what they described as "a tragic shooting incident linked to an alleged family dispute, in which an Indian national was among the victims."
The diplomatic mission confirmed that "the alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family."
This devastating case highlights the extreme consequences that can emerge from domestic conflicts, with multiple lives lost and children traumatized by witnessing violence within their own family circle.
