Police say a 12-year-old dialed 911 as shots were fired inside the Brook Ivy Court house early Friday.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Four adults were found shot to death early Friday inside a Gwinnett County home, and three children hiding in a closet were found unharmed after one of them, a 12-year-old, called 911, authorities said.
Investigators said the shooting was domestic in nature and unfolded shortly after 2:30 a.m. at a single-family home on Brook Ivy Court in unincorporated Lawrenceville. Police later identified the victims and arrested a 51-year-old man at the scene’s edge. Detectives said the children — ages 12, 10 and seven — were in the home when the gunfire began and remained there until officers arrived. The case now shifts to the courts as authorities search for a motive and relatives prepare to claim their loved ones’ remains.
The call for help came from the 12-year-old, who told dispatchers they heard gunshots and were sheltering with two younger children in a bedroom closet, police said. Officers arrived within minutes and entered the house, where they found four adults dead from gunshot wounds. The children were located in the closet, physically unharmed, and later released to a family member. Outside, investigators noted a vehicle still in the driveway. With K-9 units, officers tracked a man into a nearby wood line behind the residence and took him into custody without further incident, according to police. “It’s definitely a tragic situation,” Corporal Angela Carter said at the scene. “Four people dying at the same time, especially with children in the home, is shocking to anybody.”
Authorities identified the suspect as Vijay Kumar, 51, of Atlanta. Police said he is the husband of one of the victims, Meemu Dogra, 43. The other victims were identified as relatives, including Gourav Cumar, 33, and siblings Nidhi Chander, 37, and Harish Chander, 38, who lived at the Brook Ivy Court address. Investigators said the couple argued earlier at their home in Atlanta, then drove to the Lawrenceville residence with their 12-year-old before the shootings. Police said it remains unknown what the argument was about or why the group ended up at the Chander home when the violence occurred. Officers said there are no outstanding suspects and emphasized that the case appears to be contained to the family.
Detectives described a rapid sequence of events: the early-morning 911 call, a swift entry by patrol officers, and an arrest near the property. The Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to establish precise times of death and conduct autopsies. Police did not say what type of firearm was used or how many shots were fired. Investigators also did not immediately specify where inside the home each victim was found. Neighbors told officers they were awakened by sirens before dawn and saw a heavy police presence on the cul-de-sac. Several prior calls for service tied to the suspect and victimized household were noted by investigators, though the nature of those calls was not detailed Friday.
Kumar faces multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, cruelty to children in the first degree and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, police said. He was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail. Initial court appearances typically occur within 48 hours of arrest on weekdays; an arraignment date will be set after prosecutors file formal charges. Detectives are processing the home, collecting shell casings, electronics and other potential evidence. Prosecutors are expected to review the investigative file, including statements from the three children and any video recovered from doorbell cameras in the subdivision. Autopsy findings and ballistics reports will guide additional charges, if warranted.
By midafternoon Friday, crime scene tape still ringed the house as investigators photographed rooms and the driveway. A relative retrieved the children and left with them, according to police. On the street, neighbors passed quietly, steering around marked units and unmarked SUVs. One neighbor, who declined to share her last name, said she sometimes saw children playing in the yard after school. “You never think something like this is happening behind closed doors,” she said. Another resident said a patrol car remained nearby through the morning as technicians loaded sealed evidence bags into a van.
The investigation remains active as detectives piece together what preceded the shootings and whether any protective orders or prior police responses are relevant. Authorities said the next update could come after autopsies are completed and initial court paperwork is filed. As of Friday evening, the children were with extended family members, and the home on Brook Ivy Court remained secured for evidence processing. The first court appearance for the suspect is expected early this week, followed by a scheduling of further hearings.
Author note: Last updated January 25, 2026.