Four Indian-Origin Adults Killed in Domestic Shooting in Georgia; Three Children Survive by Hiding in Closet
- Law enforcement officials have praised the children's quick thinking and bravery during the terrifying incident.
Four adults of Indian origin were killed in a domestic-related shooting in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in the early hours of Friday, January 24, while three children present in the home survived by hiding in a closet, according to Gwinnett County Police.
The victims were identified as Meemu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta; Gourav Kumar, 33; Nidhi Chander, 37; and Harish Chander, 38, all residents of Lawrenceville, according to Fox5 Atlanta and Gwinnett County Police. The suspect, Vijay Kumar, 51, of Atlanta, who is Dogra’s husband, has been arrested and faces multiple charges.
The Consulate General of India in Atlanta confirmed that an Indian national was among the victims. “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 consulate said in a post on X.
The Incident
Gwinnett County Police responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday in the 1,000 block of Brook Ivy Court in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, according to Fox5 Atlanta. Upon arrival, officers discovered four adults inside the residence who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. All four were pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, an argument began between Dogra and Kumar at their home in Atlanta, Fox5 Atlanta reported. The couple then traveled to the residence on Brook Ivy Court with their 12-year-old child, where the fatal shooting occurred, according to the same source.
The Brook Ivy Court home was occupied by Dogra’s relatives Gourav Kumar, Nidhi Chander, and Harish Chander, along with two other children aged seven and 10, according to The New Indian Express.
Children’s Survival
Three children were inside the home when the shooting began, according to Gwinnett County Police. In what authorities described as a remarkable act of presence of mind, the children hid together inside a closet to protect themselves.
The 12-year-old child, who is Kumar and Dogra’s son, managed to call 911 from inside the closet, providing critical information that enabled officers to reach the scene within minutes, according to Fox5 Atlanta.
The children were not physically harmed and have since been taken into the care of a family member.
Suspect’s Arrest
When police arrived at the scene, Kumar’s vehicle was still parked in the driveway, raising concerns that the suspect was nearby. Officers deployed K-9 units to search the surrounding area. Police tracked Kumar to a nearby wooded area behind the home, where he was taken into custody without incident.
“Because of the rapid response, officers arrived while the suspect’s vehicle was still parked in the driveway. K-9 units were deployed and tracked Kumar to a nearby woodline, where he was taken into custody without incident,” police said.
Vijay Kumar has been 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 first degree, and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, according to Fox5 Atlanta.
About the Victims
According to Fox5 Atlanta and Gwinnett County Police, the victims included:
- Meemu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta – Kumar’s wife
- Gourav Kumar, 33, of Lawrenceville – relative of Dogra and Kumar
- Nidhi Chander, 37, of Lawrenceville – relative of Dogra and Kumar
- Harish Chander, 38, of Lawrenceville – relative of Dogra and Kumar
The exact relationship between Gourav Kumar, Nidhi Chander, and Harish Chander was not immediately clear from police statements, though they were identified as relatives who resided at the Brook Ivy Court home.
The Heroism of the Children
Law enforcement officials have praised the children’s quick thinking and bravery during the terrifying incident.
The fact that the 12-year-old was able to call 911 while hiding in the closet enabled police to arrive quickly enough that Kumar’s vehicle was still in the driveway when they reached the scene.
All three children—ages 12, 10, and 7—were unharmed physically, though the psychological impact of witnessing such violence remains a concern, according to multiple sources.
This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.