Gwinnett County Police said officers responded to a “shots fired” call at around 2.30 am on January 23 at a residence in the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court in Lawrenceville. On arrival, officers found four adults inside the home with fatal gunshot wounds. All were declared dead at the scene.

The victims were identified as Meemu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta; Gourav Kumar, 33; Nidhi Chander, 37; and Harish Chander, 38, all residents of Lawrenceville. The Consulate General of India in Atlanta confirmed that one of the victims was an Indian national and expressed deep sorrow over the deaths.

In a post on X, the Indian mission said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragic incident and noted that it was believed to be linked to a family dispute. The consulate added that the suspected shooter had been arrested and that it was providing all possible assistance to the affected family.

Police said three young children were present in the house during the shooting. The children were unharmed and managed to hide together in a cupboard. One of them called 911, a move authorities credited with enabling a rapid police response. “The child’s calm and quick action helped officers reach the scene within minutes,” a police spokesperson said.

When officers arrived, the suspect’s vehicle was still parked in the driveway, raising concerns that the shooter might be nearby. K-9 units were deployed, and a police dog later tracked the suspect to a wooded area close to the home. He was taken into custody without resistance.

Later on Friday, 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.

Investigators said the incident may have stemmed from an argument between Dogra and Kumar at a home in Atlanta earlier in the day. The two reportedly travelled with a 12-year-old child to the Brook Ivy Court residence, where the fatal shooting later took place.

The children were later handed over to a family member. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and additional details will be released as they become available.