Man killed wife, 3 relatives while children hid in closet and called 911, police say

Written by: A. Smith

Published January 26, 2026 @ 12:03 PM ET

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – Four adults were killed in a domestic-related shooting early Friday morning at a Lawrenceville home, where three children survived by hiding in a closet and one child called 911 to get help, Gwinnett County police said.

Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court around 2:30 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired. When they arrived, police found four adults inside the residence suffering from gunshot wounds. All four were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said three children were inside the home when the gunfire erupted. The children hid together inside a closet to avoid being hurt. One of the children, a 12-year-old, was able to call 911 and provide information that helped officers respond quickly. The children were not injured and were later released to a family member.

Because officers arrived while the suspect’s vehicle was still parked at the home, police believed the shooter had fled on foot. K-9 units were deployed to search the surrounding neighborhood, and the suspect was tracked to a nearby wooded area, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Police identified the suspect as 51-year-old Vijay Kumar of Atlanta. He has been charged with four counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of first-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.

The victims were identified as Kumar’s wife, Meemu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta; Gourav Cumar, 33; Nidhi Chander, 37; and Harish Chander, 38, all of Lawrenceville.

Investigators said an argument began earlier between Kumar and Dogra at their Atlanta home. The two then drove to the Brook Ivy Court residence with their 12-year-old child. The home belonged to relatives, including Gourav Cumar, Nidhi Chander, and Harish Chander, who lived there along with two other children, ages 7 and 10.

Police said there had been prior calls for service at the Brook Ivy Court address, but did not provide details. Authorities have not said what sparked the argument, why the couple went to the Lawrenceville home, or what led up to the shooting.

The investigation remains ongoing.