Manassas Park, Virginia — In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through both the local community and Nepalese diaspora, four members of a Nepali family—including two young children—were found shot dead in their basement apartment in Virginia late Thursday night.

The victims, identified as 38-year-old Santosh Pariyar, 36-year-old Anju Shrestha, a 2-year-old boy, and an 8-year-old girl, were discovered lifeless by police officers after a concerned landlord requested a welfare check. The children’s names are being withheld by police.

Officers arrived at the residence on the 9400 block of Lantern Lane in Manassas Park around 10:40 p.m., where they recovered a firearm from the scene. According to local authorities, all four victims died from gunshot wounds.

The family had reportedly moved to the United States from Nepal just six months ago, hoping for a better life. That dream ended in unimaginable tragedy.

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Gun Violence: A Growing Threat in American Suburbs

This tragedy underscores a larger issue haunting communities across the United States—the alarming frequency of gun-related deaths. Once considered safe suburban zones, places like Manassas Park are increasingly being shaken by fatal shootings, leaving many immigrants and families fearful for their safety.

“This shouldn’t happen anywhere—let alone to children,” said a devastated neighbor. “My 8-year-old daughter played with the little girl every day.”

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Investigation Underway

Authorities from the Manassas Park Police Department are currently investigating the case and have sent the bodies to the local medical examiner’s office for autopsy. Helicopter footage aired by NBC4 Washington on Friday morning showed a heavy police presence in the quiet townhouse neighborhood, just two miles east of Centerville Road (Route 28).

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Police have not yet confirmed whether the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide, targeted killing, or another cause.

A Wake-Up Call

The deaths of this innocent family add to the growing list of casualties from gun violence in America—a crisis that shows no signs of slowing down. As debates over gun control policies continue in Washington, D.C., this tragedy serves as a grim reminder that for many families, the American dream is coming at a deadly cost.