Grandson held for couple’s murder in US, family in shock at Vadodara

“Dilipkumar Brahmabhatt is my maternal uncle… We cannot confirm what transpired but we have learnt that Om had run into bad company. The family was, perhaps, imposing some restrictions to bring him back on track, which led to this…,” Barot said.

He added that while Dilipkumar had served at police stations in Bilimora, Vapi, Limbayat, Halol and Kalol, among others, Bindu was a retired bank executive. Om, son of Dilipkumar and Bindu’s Anand-based daughter Rinku, was living at the US home of his uncle Yashkumar on a student visa. “He has been in the US for about two years while my uncle and aunt had travelled there two months ago to spend some time with their son… Om’s mother is in Anand and does not currently have a visa to visit the US,” Barot said. The bodies are yet to be handed by the investigators  to the family for final rites.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that officers responded to the home on Coppola Drive off New Durham Road around 9 am on Monday after a neighbour reported hearing shots fired at the Traditions condo complex.

The officers found three persons who had suffered gunshot wounds. Dilipkumar and Bindu were found shot to death in the second floor apartment, police said. Yashkumar was found to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Om was taken into custody for questioning at the scene. He was later charged with three counts of first-degree murder and second-degree weapon possession.

The police said the crime was committed with a handgun Om said he purchased online. He was the one who called 911 that morning and when asked about who committed the murders, officers said Om stated, “It might be me.”

WITH PTI inputs