Four dead in Atlanta shooting: Indian-origin man shoots wife, relatives dead, children hide in closet

ATLANTA: Four people of Indian origin were killed in a shooting in Georgia, USA following a family dispute. The incident took place in Lawrenceville, Georgia early yesterday morning. The victims have been identified as Meemu Dogra (43), Gourav Kumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37) and Harish Chander (38) according to Gwinnett County police. Police have confirmed that Meenu's husband Vijay Kumar (51) committed the murder.

Three children were at home when the shooting took place. The children hid in a closet inside the house to escape the attacker. In the meantime, one of the children gathered courage and informed the police. The police arrived at the scene as soon as they received the child's message, but all four were dead. The children, who escaped unharmed, were later shifted to the homes of other relatives. The police arrested the shooter from the scene.

Vijay Kumar was 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.

The Indian Consulate in Atlanta expressed its condolences over the incident. “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,” it said on X.