In a shocking case of domestic violence, Harshavardhana S Kikkeri (57), an Indian tech entrepreneur and former Microsoft employee, allegedly shot and killed his wife, Shwetha Panyam (44), and their 14-year-old son at their home in Newcastle, Washington, before dying by suicide, police confirmed.
The tragedy unfolded on April 24, while the couple’s other son survived as he was reportedly not at home during the incident. Authorities have yet to officially release the identities of the children, but local broadcasters at the scene reported a child being escorted out of the house and consoled by investigators.
The King County Sheriff’s Office is leading the ongoing investigation and has not yet determined a motive for the murder-suicide.
Neighbors described the family as “friendly but quiet,” expressing disbelief over the violent turn of events.
Originally from KR Pet Taluk in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Kikkeri was the founder and CEO of HoloWorld, a Mysuru-based robotics firm. His wife, Shwetha, was also a co-founder. The couple had returned to India in 2017 to launch the startup, but the company was forced to shut down in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, after which Kikkeri moved back to the United States.
At the height of his entrepreneurial career, Kikkeri had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pitch the use of robotics in border security. His professional background included a stint at Microsoft and deep expertise in advanced robotics technologies.
Authorities have urged the public to await further updates as they continue their investigation into this tragic case.
