Cheryl Orson–
Authorities in South Plainfield, New Jersey have revealed that Om Brahmbhatt, the 23-year-old Indian student arrested for allegedly killing three family members on Monday, November 27, shot his grandparents (both aged 72) in their sleep. The local police said that he had purchased the gun online.
Om was arrested and charged in connection with a triple homicide on Monday night. On Monday, around 9 am, neighbors in the condominium complex at Coppola Drive, South Plainfield in Middlesex County, heard gunshots being fired. A 911 call was reportedly made by Om himself.
Upon their arrival, officers located three victims: two males Dilipkumar Brahmbhatt, 72, and Yashkumar Brahmbhatt, 38, and one female, Bindu Brahmbhatt, 72, all of South Plainfield. Police said Dilipkumar and Bindu are Om’s grandparents, while Yashkumar is his uncle.
Dilipkumar and Bindu, who sustained gunshot wounds to their heads as they slept, according to authorities, were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The couple’s son, Yashkumar Brahmbhatt, 38, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was also pronounced deceased.
The alleged perpetrator Om Brahmbhatt, 23, also of South Plainfield, and who had resided with the victims, was found at the residence waiting for police when the authorities arrived at the scene. He was later charged with killing his grandparents and uncle having called 911 after shooting and stating to police “it might be me” when the officers arrived, according to a criminal complaint.
It was determined early on that there was no threat to the general public and that this was not a random act of violence but rather “targeted” and related to domestic violence, according to Detective Thomas Rutter of the South Plainfield Police Department, and Detective Javier Morillo, of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
An ensuing investigation led to Om being arrested without incident the same night, and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Om had bought the gun online, according to the criminal complaint filed in support of the murder charges.
Om is currently being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Center pending the results of a pre-trial detention hearing to be held 9 am on Friday, December 1 at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.
Police said that this continues to be an active and ongoing investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Rutter of the South Plainfield Police Department (908) 226- 7663 and/or Detective Morillo of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-8843.
