Lawrenceville, Georgia: A domestic dispute turned fatal in the United States after an Indian-origin man allegedly shot dead his wife and three relatives in the state of Georgia. The incident took place on Friday morning in Lawrenceville and has sent shockwaves through the Indian-American community in the Atlanta region.
The accused, Vijay Kumar (51), a resident of Atlanta, reportedly had a heated argument with his wife, Meenu Dogra (43), at their residence. Following the dispute, the couple, along with their 12-year-old son, went to the home of relatives located in the Brook Ivy Court area of Lawrenceville. The argument reportedly escalated further at the relatives’ house.
Police said Vijay Kumar opened fire indiscriminately using a firearm he was carrying. Four people were killed on the spot, including his wife Meenu Dogra and relatives Gaurav Kumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37), and Harish Chander (38).
At the time of the shooting, three children were present inside the house and hid in a cupboard to escape the gunfire. The accused’s 12-year-old son courageously called emergency services by dialing 911 and alerted the police.
Gwinnett County police stated that officers arriving at the scene found four victims dead with gunshot wounds. The suspect attempted to flee but was arrested a short distance from the residence. Multiple charges have been registered against him, and further investigation is underway.
The incident has deeply shocked the Indian diaspora. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta said it is coordinating with local authorities and assured full assistance to the families of the victims. Officials confirmed that one of the deceased was an Indian citizen, while the remaining victims were of Indian origin.