Atlanta, Jan 24: The Consulate General of India in Atlanta has expressed deep sorrow over a tragic shooting incident in Georgia that claimed the lives of four adults, including an Indian national, and assured full assistance to the bereaved family.
In a post on X, the Consulate 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.”
The statement came as Gwinnett County Police continued investigating a deadly domestic shooting that occurred early Friday morning in a Lawrenceville-area neighbourhood.
According to authorities, officers responded to a “shots fired” call at around 2:30 a.m. at a residence in the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court. Upon arrival, police found four adults suffering from gunshot wounds. All four victims, who were of Indian origin, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the incident was domestic in nature. Police revealed that three young children were inside the home at the time of the shooting. In a remarkable act of presence of mind, the children hid together in a closet to protect themselves. One child managed to call 911, providing critical information that enabled officers to reach the scene within minutes.
Due to the swift response, police arrived while the suspect’s vehicle was still parked in the driveway. K-9 units were deployed amid fears that the shooter might still be in the area. A police dog later tracked the suspect to a nearby wooded area, where he was taken into custody without incident.
The children were unharmed and were later handed over to the care of a family member.
On Friday afternoon, Gwinnett County Police identified the suspect as Vijay Kumar, 51, of Atlanta. He has been charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, felony murder, and malice murder, along with one count of first-degree cruelty to children and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.
Police identified the victims as Kumar’s wife, Meemu Dogra (43), of Atlanta; Gourav Kumar (33); Nidhi Chander (37); and Harish Chander (38), all residents of Lawrenceville.
Investigators said an argument reportedly began between Dogra and Kumar at their Atlanta home. The couple later travelled to the Brook Ivy Court residence with their 12-year-old child, where the fatal shooting took place. (Agencies)
