Indian-Origin Student Charged with Capital Murder in Texas Family Shooting

Tragic Incident in Texas Involving Indian-Origin Student

A 19-year-old student of Indian descent has been charged with capital murder following the tragic shooting of three family members in Texas. Gaurav Chopra, who studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), is accused of fatally shooting his father, mother, and grandmother at their residence in the Tuscany Village area near Alton on June 17. The deceased have been identified as Sita Ram, aged 56, Kamlesh Rani, aged 46, and Mahinder Kaur, aged 73. Authorities reported that all three victims succumbed to gunshot wounds to the head.

According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement responded to a 911 call from a man claiming that his brother had shot their family members before fleeing the scene. Sheriff Eddie Guerra stated that Chopra allegedly attempted to shoot his 21-year-old brother, Sajan, but missed. Following the incident, a search operation was initiated as the suspect left the premises. His escape attempt concluded with a police chase that ended in a crash at the intersection of 4 Mile Line Road and Glasscock Road. Two individuals in another vehicle sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital. A handgun was recovered at the crash site.

Chopra was arraigned on Thursday, facing charges of capital murder involving multiple victims and attempted murder, with no bond set for these charges. He also faces an evading arrest charge, for which a bond of $250,000 was established. Sheriff Guerra mentioned that a motive for the killings has yet to be determined. When questioned about Chopra's cooperation with investigators, he noted that the suspect had made claims that were "not accurate." During a press briefing, Sheriff Guerra described Sita Ram as a well-known business owner in Palmview who was actively involved in helping those in need.

Alton Police Chief Mark Perez indicated that there had been no prior calls to the family's residence. Relatives from Nawanshahr district in Punjab expressed their grief upon learning about the incident through contacts in the U.S. The community is currently in mourning over the tragic loss. A representative from UTRGV confirmed that the university is aware of the situation involving a current student identified as a suspect in an off-campus criminal investigation. The spokesperson stated, "UTRGV is cooperating with law enforcement as appropriate. Due to the ongoing investigation, inquiries regarding the case should be directed to the investigating agency."