A 19-year-old Texas man has been charged with capital murder after authorities say he shot and killed his father, mother and grandmother before attempting to shoot his brother, who narrowly escaped by dodging the bullet.
Background
Gaurav Chopra is accused of killing Sweeta Ram, 56, Kamlesh Rani, 46, and Minder Kaur, 73, inside a home in the 3700 block of Roosevelt Avenue in Alton, located in Hidalgo County in southeast Texas. The slayings occurred just days before Father's Day, according to authorities.
Sheriff J.E. "Eddie" Guerra told reporters that deputies responded to the scene shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday after receiving a 911 call reporting the violence. The caller identified himself as Chopra's brother and said Chopra had killed his family members and attempted to shoot him as well, according to officials.
Investigators later learned that all three victims were discovered on the second floor of the residence with gunshot wounds to the head. Rani and Kaur were pronounced dead at the scene, while Ram was transported to a hospital where he later died.
Chopra fled the scene in a white Lexus immediately after the shootings. As law enforcement descended on the home, a deputy spotted the vehicle leaving the gated subdivision, authorities said.
The Investigation
According to Guerra, Chopra led deputies on a brief pursuit before crashing into two other vehicles and being taken into custody. Deputies recovered a 9mm firearm inside the vehicle that investigators believe was used in the killings.
Back at the residence, Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office detectives processed the scene while medical examiners worked to determine exact causes of death. Authorities have not yet disclosed what motivated Chopra to allegedly attack his own family members.
Ram was well known in the Alton community as the owner of a local motel and event center. Palmview Mayor Rick Villarreal described him to KVEO, a local NBC/CBS affiliate, as a "high-spirited, motivating person" who "always had positive things to say."
"Any time we asked, he never said no," Villarreal told the station. "We had several functions, a Christmas celebration, our Thanksgiving, employee recognitions. He always provided the best food."
Chopra remains held in the Hidalgo County Jail without bond. He faces three counts of capital murder and one count of attempted capital murder for allegedly shooting at his brother.
Key Takeaways
- Gaurav Chopra, 19, has been charged with capital murder in the deaths of his father Sweeta Ram, 56; mother Kamlesh Rani, 46; and grandmother Minder Kaur, 73
- All three victims were shot in the head on the second floor of their Alton home
- Chopra allegedly tried to kill his brother as well, but the sibling dodged the bullet and escaped injury
- Investigators recovered a 9mm firearm believed to be the murder weapon after Chopra crashed during a brief pursuit
- Chopra was a student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, according to KRGV reports
What's Next
Chopra's next court date remains unclear as authorities continue their investigation into the slayings. Detectives are working to establish a motive for the alleged attacks on his own family members. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will seek the death penalty or pursue life without parole in this capital murder case.