Harshavardhana S. Kikkeri, a 57-year-old Indian-origin tech entrepreneur, allegedly shot and killed his wife and teenage son before taking his own life at their home in Newcastle, Washington, on April 24, 2025, according to local authorities.

The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Kikkeri’s wife, Shwetha Panyam, 44, and their 14-year-old son died from gunshot wounds in what has been ruled a double homicide. Kikkeri died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, which investigators have classified as a suicide.

Deputies responded to a 911 call on the evening of April 24 and discovered the three bodies inside the family’s townhouse in the 7000 block of 129th Street SE. A younger son survived the incident, though details about his condition have not been disclosed.

Authorities have not yet identified a motive for the tragic incident, which has left the local community in shock. “A young family lived in the home,” said neighbor Cathy Dunbar in an interview with KOMO News.

Law enforcement officers remained at the scene through the early morning hours as the investigation continued.

Originally from Kikkeri village in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Harshavardhana Kikkeri was the CEO and co-founder of HoloWorld, a now-defunct robotics company based in Mysuru. He established the company in 2017 alongside his wife, with a focus on artificial intelligence and robotics. HoloWorld ceased operations in 2022.

Kikkeri held a degree from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering in Mysuru and had previously worked with Microsoft in the United States, specializing in robotics.

The incident has raised concerns about mental health pressures in high-stress professional environments and has prompted an outpouring of grief from those who knew the family.