Latest news with #Harshavardhana
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- The Hindu
Indian-origin family of three found dead after shooting at Washington home
Three Indian-origin people were found dead after a shooting at a home in the U.S. State of Washington, according to local media reports. The incident took place on April 24 in Newcastle city. The dead were identified as Harshavardhana Kikkeri, 44, Shwetha Panyam, 41, and Dhruva Kikkeri, 14, The Seattle Times newspaper reported on Tuesday (April 29, 2025). While the deaths of Shwetha and Dhruva were ruled as homicide by the police, Harshavardhana died by suicide, the report quoted the King County medical examiner's office as saying. Neighbours told the KOMO News that a young family lived in the home where the shooting took place. On the night of the shooting, authorities were called to the townhouse on 129th Street after receiving a 911 call. The KING 5 television station said its crew saw a child being escorted from the home and comforted by investigators. Owners of Holoworld Reports said Harshavardhana, alongside Shwetha, was the owner of an India-based AI tech company Holoworld. According to the company's website, it was founded in 2018 by the two, with Harshavardhana serving as the CEO and CTO, and Shwetha as president. King County sheriff's spokesperson Brandyn Hull said she could not comment on whether the case was believed to be a murder-suicide. "We understand many questions remain about the events that took place in Newcastle on April 24,' Hull was quoted as saying by Renton Reporter newspaper. 'An investigation such as this takes time, and our detectives are working diligently to try and piece together what led to this incident. Until this work concludes, the Sheriff's Office won't have any further updates.' No sign of the deaths' motive or relationships among the deceased was released by the sheriff's office, according to the report.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
'Blood on window, bullet on street': How Mysuru techie CEO Harshavardhana Kikkeri kills wife and son before taking his own life in US
A Mysuru-based entrepreneur, Harshavardhana Kikkeri , allegedly shot and killed his wife and their teenage son before dying by suicide at their home in Newcastle, near Washington, US, on April 24. The local police discovered the bodies after responding to a 911 call. The couple's younger son, who was not at home at the time, survived. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack The groundwork before India mounts a strike at Pakistan India considers closing airspace to Pakistani carriers amid rising tensions Cold Start: India's answer to Pakistan's nuclear threats According to The Seattle Times, police found blood on a window and a bullet in the street before entering the house, where they discovered three bodies. The King County medical examiner's office has ruled the deaths of 41-year-old Shwetha and the 14-year-old boy as homicides. Harshavardhana's death was classified as suicide. Police investigation underway; motive not yet confirmed Law enforcement authorities have not revealed any motive in the case. The King County Sheriff's Office has not confirmed whether the deaths are being formally investigated as a murder-suicide. Investigators have not released further details about events leading up to the incident or any possible signs of distress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Sheriff's spokesperson Brandyn Hull confirmed to The Seattle Times that officers responded to a 911 emergency call at the family's townhouse in King County. The presence of bloodstains and a discharged bullet outside the home raised concerns before the bodies were found. Mother travels to US, family in Mysuru in shock A family friend in Mysuru confirmed the news and said Harshavardhana's mother, Girija, has travelled to the US following the incident. His elder brother, Chethan, had recently returned to Mysuru from the US and has been informed. The friend said the family is in shock and is not prepared to speak to the media at this time. Live Events The family is originally from Kikkeri village in KR Pet taluk of Mandya district in Karnataka. Harshavardhana's father, Kikkeri Narayana, was a well-known linguist and progressive activist in the region. The family has strong academic and professional roots in Karnataka. Founder of tech startup impacted by Covid Harshavardhana had previously founded HoloWorld, a robotics company headquartered in Mysuru. The startup shut operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the couple moved back to the US. According to the family friend, Harshavardhana had not returned to Mysuru since 2022. Details about the couple's life in the US in recent years remain limited. There is no information yet on whether the family had faced any financial or personal difficulties after relocating. Police have not commented on whether any prior domestic complaints or disturbances were reported. Community response muted as investigation continues The local Indian community in Washington has not issued a formal statement. Authorities are yet to announce any plans for the repatriation or funeral arrangements of the deceased. The case has drawn attention in Indian news and among diaspora groups, but officials have urged the public to wait for verified updates. Such incidents involving Indian-origin families in the US are rare but have raised concern among immigrant groups. Community leaders have called for awareness and support systems to help families in distress, especially those recently resettled or impacted by financial or business losses. Similar incident last month in Virginia highlights growing concern In March, a 24-year-old Indian woman, Urmi Patel, and her 56-year-old father, Pradeep Patel, were shot dead at a convenience store in Accomack County, Virginia, where they were employed. According to local reports, the accused, George Frazier Devon Wharton (44), entered the store early morning and asked why it had been shut the previous night. He then opened fire. Pradeep Patel died at the scene while Urmi was taken to a hospital and later died from her injuries. The store was owned by a relative, Paresh Patel, who confirmed to WAVY TV that the victims were his family members. 'My cousin's wife and her dad were working this morning. Some guy came here and just shot. I don't know what to do,' he said. The Patel family had moved from Gujarat's Mehsana district to the US about six years ago. Pradeep's wife Hansaben also worked at the store. The family has two other daughters—one living in Canada and the other in Ahmedabad. A relative in Mehsana, Chandu Patel, told reporters that they learnt of the shooting from news reports and a viral video. 'We spoke to his daughter and she told us everything,' he said. Indian community in US expresses concern over safety While the two incidents are unrelated, both involve Indian-origin families affected by sudden acts of gun violence in the US. The tragedies have prompted renewed discussion around safety measures, mental health support, and the need for community outreach programs for Indian immigrants. The Indian diaspora in the US has been growing steadily over the years, with many families working in small businesses, technology, and service industries. Community organisations have called for better integration and support networks to address emotional and professional stress faced by immigrant families. Law enforcement in both Washington and Virginia are continuing their investigations. The Indian missions in the US have not yet issued statements on either case.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
Bullet on street, blood on window: HoloWorld CEO Harshavardhana Kikkeri from Karnataka shoots family dead in US, then kills self
MYSURU: Mysuru-based entrepreneur Harshavardhana Kikkeri (45) allegedly shot and killed his wife, Shwetha (41), and their 14-year-old son at their home in Newcastle, near Washington, US, before dying by suicide on April 24. According to reports, the couple's younger son survived as he was not at home at the time of the incident. Police responded to a 911 call last week at a townhouse in King County, where they discovered blood on a window, a bullet in the street, and three bodies, according to King County Sheriff's spokesperson Brandyn Hull, as reported by The Seattle Times. A family friend in Mysuru confirmed the news and said Harshavardhana's mother, Girija, living in Mysuru has left for US. His elder brother, Chethan, who too was in the US, recently returned to Mysuru for good. Harshavardhana's father Kikkeri Narayana was a noted linguist and a progressive activist. A native of Kikkeri in KR Pet taluk of Mandya district, Harshavardhana founded HoloWorld, a robotic company, based out of Mysuru. When the company folded due to the Covid pandemic, the couple returned to the US. According to the family friend, Harshavardhana hasn't visited Mysuru since 2022. Law enforcement has not revealed the motive for the crime and declined to say whether it was a case of murder-suicide . However, according to The Seattle Times, the medical examiner's office ruled Shwetha and the boy's deaths as homicides, while Harshavardhana's death was classified as a suicide.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Time of India
Indian techie kills wife, son, then shoots himself in US home
An Indian-origin tech entrepreneur from Mysuru allegedly shot and killed his wife and one of his sons before taking his own life at their home in Newcastle, Washington, on April 24. The victims have been identified as Harshavardhana S Kikkeri , 57, his wife Shwetha Panyam , 44, and their 14-year-old son. The family had been living in the US for several years, The Renton Reporter noted. According to the King County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a 911 call on the evening of April 24 and discovered three bodies inside the family's townhouse in the 7000 block of 129th Street SE. Harshavardhana's wife Shwetha and their son died from gunshot wounds and their deaths were ruled as homicides, while he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which was classified as a suicide, the King County Sheriff's Office reported. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo The motive behind the crime is yet to be revealed. The couple's younger son survived the incident. Harshavardhana, originally from Kikkeri village in Karnataka's Mandya district, was CEO of HoloWorld, a now-closed robotics company based in Mysuru. He co-founded HoloWorld with his wife in 2017 after moving back to India. The company, which focused on AI and robotics and was shut down in 2022. Local neighbors were stunned. 'A young family lived in the home,' said Cathy Dunbar in an interview with KOMO News. Deputies remained at the scene until early morning hours following the discovery. Harshavardhana, a graduate of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering in Mysuru had earlier worked with Microsoft in US, focusing on robotics.
