A timely 911 call by one of the children helped save three young lives after a family dispute turned deadly in the US state of Georgia.
The tragic incident took place in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta, where an Indian woman and three of her Indian-origin relatives were shot dead, allegedly by her husband, Vijay Kumar.
Police said the shooting happened in the early hours of Friday morning while three children were inside the house.
As the firing began, the children ran and hid inside a closet to protect themselves. One of the children, who is the accused’s own child, managed to dial 911 and alert the police.
Based on the information provided by the child, officers reached the house within minutes. When police arrived at around 2.30 am local time, they found four adults inside the residence with fatal gunshot wounds.
The victims were identified by Gwinnett County Police as Kumar’s wife Meenu Dogra (43), Gourav Kumar (33), Nidhi Chander (37) and Harish Chander (38).
Police confirmed that the three children were not injured in the incident. They were later taken into the care of another family member.
The accused, Vijay Kumar (51), has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault, four counts of felony murder and four counts of malice murder.
He also faces charges related to cruelty to children, including one count in the first degree and two counts in the third degree.
The Consulate General of India in Atlanta expressed deep sorrow over the incident and confirmed that the suspect has been arrested.
In a statement shared online, the Consulate said it is extending all possible assistance to the bereaved family.
The incident has shocked the Indian community in the US, while the brave and quick action of the child is being seen as the reason three innocent lives were saved.