Jalandhar: A 19-year-old man of Punjabi origin has been arrested in the United States for allegedly killing his parents and maternal grandmother, just months after the family visited their native village of Lakhpur in Nawanshahr district's Banga area.
Details of the Incident
Gaurav Chopra is accused of shooting his father, Sweeta Ram (56), mother Kamlesh Rani (46), and maternal grandmother Mohinder Kaur (73) inside their home in Alton, Texas, on the night of June 16. He also faces a first-degree felony charge of attempted capital murder for allegedly shooting at his 21-year-old brother, according to Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra during a press conference on Thursday morning.
According to a police affidavit reported by ValleyCentral.com, the brother discovered the crime scene while walking upstairs and noticing legs on the floor. Gaurav then approached him, pointed a handgun at his head, and fired once but missed. After a brief chase through the house, the brother escaped and called authorities, reporting that Gaurav had killed the family and fled in a white Lexus. Following a police pursuit, Gaurav was apprehended, and investigators recovered the suspected murder weapon from his vehicle.
Court Appearance and Investigation
Gaurav appeared before a judge on Thursday to face multiple counts of capital murder. Sheriff Guerra said investigators are still searching for a motive, noting that the suspect has no criminal history and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the case.
Shock in Native Village
Back in Nawanshahr, relatives in Lakhpur are in deep shock. "The family visited the village four to five months ago and was very happy. We are both devastated and shocked," said Sweeta Ram's cousin, Makhan Singh. Ram had emigrated to the US roughly 30 years ago and was a prominent business owner in nearby Palmview, Texas. Mayor Rick Villarreal expressed profound grief, stating, "Ram was like family to me. He was a high-spirited, motivating person and always had positive things to say. I never heard him say a negative thing."
