Four Nepali family members found shot dead in Virginia
All four were found shot dead inside their rented apartment in the 9400 block of Lanier Lane.
KATHMANDU: An incident has shaken the Nepali community in Manassas Park, Virginia—the same city where Nepali nurse Mamta Kafle went missing a year ago under mysterious circumstances.
On the night of June 5, four members of a Nepali family, including two young children, were found dead from gunshot wounds in their apartment. Authorities are investigating the case as a domestic murder-suicide.
According to the Manassas Park Police Department, officers responded to a welfare check at approximately 10:40 p.m. after the landlord reported being unable to reach his tenants.
Upon entering the apartment on the 9400 block of Lanae Lane, officers discovered the bodies of Santosh Pariyar, 38, his wife Anju Shrestha, 36, their 8-year-old daughter, and 2-year-old son.
A firearm was recovered at the scene, and preliminary investigations suggest the shooting occurred inside the home with no indication of outside involvement.
However, police have not yet released details regarding who fired the shots. All four bodies have been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for autopsies.
Authorities confirmed that there is no threat to the surrounding community. The case remains under investigation.
Neighbors reported that the family had moved to the area only six months prior. The tragic news has left the local community stunned.
The couple’s daughter, an elementary student at Manassas Park City School, was remembered in a heartfelt statement issued by the school, which also announced the availability of grief counseling and mental health support for classmates, teachers, and staff.
This heartbreaking event has added to the growing unease among the Nepali diaspora, still haunted by the unsolved disappearance of Mamta Kafle.
Notably, Google Maps shows that Kafle’s last known residence is just a three-minute walk from the scene of the recent tragedy. Her case is scheduled to be heard in court this August.
As the investigation continues, the Nepali community in the U.S. remains gripped by grief, searching for answers and solace in the face of back-to-back tragedies.
