Indian man kills wife, three relatives in Georgia; suspect held

LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia: A 51‑year‑old Indian man allegedly shot and killed his wife and three relatives during a domestic dispute in suburban Atlanta early Friday, while three children survived by hiding in a closet and calling 911, authorities said.

Gwinnett County police responded to a 911 call at about 2:30 am on Brook Ivy Court in Lawrenceville and found four adults with fatal gunshot wounds inside the home. The victims were identified as the suspect’s wife, 43‑year‑old Meemu Dogra, and three relatives — 33‑year‑old Gourav Kumar, 37‑year‑old Nidhi Chander, and 38‑year‑old Harish Chander.

Police said three children aged 7, 10 and 12 were inside the house when the shooting began.

The children hid in a closet to protect themselves, and the 12‑year‑old made the 911 call that enabled officers to reach the scene within minutes. All three children were unharmed and were later placed in the care of a family member.

The suspect, identified as Vijay Kumar, was located a short distance from the residence and taken into custody. He has been charged with multiple counts, including aggravated assault, felony murder, malice murder and cruelty to children, police said.

The Consulate General of India in Atlanta confirmed that one of the victims was an Indian national and said it was offering assistance to the bereaved family.

Police said the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic dispute, but investigators have not publicly disclosed what triggered the argument or why the family traveled to the Lawrenceville residence.