Newcastle (Washington) / Mysuru: In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked both the tech world and local communities in India and the U.S., a Mysuru-based entrepreneur allegedly shot and killed his wife and one of their sons before turning the gun on himself at their residence in Newcastle, Washington.
The couple’s younger son, aged seven, survived, having stepped out of the house shortly before the tragedy unfolded.
The accused, Harsha Kikkeri (57)—also known as Harshavardhan—was the founder and CEO of HoloWorld, a Mysuru-based robotics company. His wife Shwetha and one of their sons were found dead at the scene along with Harsha, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Authorities responded to a 911 call at a townhouse in the 7000 block of 129th Street on Thursday night (U.S. time). Upon arrival, deputies found three bodies and confirmed that the scene posed no further threat to public safety.
While investigators are treating it as a murder-suicide, the exact motive remains unknown. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the names or ages of the deceased children. The case remains under active investigation.
A Life of Innovation and Ambition
Hailing from Kikkeri village in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Harsha was an engineering graduate from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysuru. He went on to work with Microsoft in the United States, where he was involved in cutting-edge robotics development.
In 2017, Harsha and Shwetha returned to India and co-founded HoloWorld, a robotics startup that soon made headlines for its product HoloSuit—a bi-directional, wireless full-body motion capture suit. Touted as the world’s first of its kind at an affordable price, the suit was designed for applications across healthcare, sports, education, and skill development.
HoloWorld's products were exported to multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Israel. Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh served as the brand ambassador. Harsha even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss deploying robotic soldiers along India's borders. As a respected member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) network, he frequently spoke at tech and innovation forums.
Despite his professional achievements, the recent tragedy has left many in the tech and entrepreneurial communities grappling for answers.
Community in Mourning
Neighbours in the Newcastle suburb described the family as kind, quiet, and largely private.
“We would exchange greetings. I often saw the mother walking her children to school—she was very warm,” said Alex Gumina, President of the local Homeowners Association.
Another neighbour recalled, “She was always smiling, and her younger son was especially affectionate. We’re devastated—this is unimaginable.”
Residents are planning a community gathering over the weekend to honor the family and support the surviving child.
Business Winds Down After Pandemic
HoloWorld’s corporate headquarters in India was located in Vijayanagar Third Stage, Mysuru, specifically housing its division HoloEducation. The company operated actively from 2018 until it scaled down in 2022 amid the pandemic. The premises have since remained vacant.
“I haven’t been in touch with them in years,” said the building owner. “They shut down during COVID, and I only heard about the tragedy yesterday.”
The incident has sent shockwaves through Mysuru’s business circles. Bhaskar Kalale, Chairman of EqualizeRCM India and President of TiE Mysuru Chapter, expressed deep condolences, calling the event “heartbreaking beyond words.”
Comments
Garbage has not been pickup the past one week. Ward21.
Mobile number 7019549462
Dear sir,
I am a resident of Padil. Few houses are letting sewage water to the storm water drain. Due to seepage our well water has been contaminated and cannot be used for consumption
We have complained to the Health officer till this day no one has come and cleared. Now when dengue and Malaria is spreading coz of mosquitoes. Relevant Department has to look into the matter seriously .
The residents of Nehru Road, few houses just before the playground are letting dirty water to the storm water drain. Please visit the area and instruct them to block them immediately. It is not appropriate during the time of covid, malaria causing growth of mosquitoes. Pl give notice to them and direct all to connect to drainage connection
Have been complaining of encroachment of neighbours on public land . Went to commissioner office couple of times & also to TPO but they only come see & go .No action is being taken by the authorities on our neighbour s who have encroached on public land. They have put tagad sheet on top across the road also tiled the road near their house ,built a Tulsi katte & planted huge forest trees which are cracking our compound wall.
Hello all,
If you are going for a start up business in Mangalore city corporation limits, please be careful with the trade license inspector name Sanjay his mobile number 8722119111 he miss uses female candidates number and will keep on disturbing you with unwanted messages and do harassment so better to avoid him if possible.
MCC please take necessary actions on him.
Attavara is a fast developing suburb with two big malls, commercial establishments, KMC and Mangalore station nearby. There is constant movement of people and traffic. As a Corporator of a growing ward, you have a major role to play.
Babugudde is now a busy residential area. Due to lack of Street display boards visitors to Babugudda (on Attavara - Marnimikatta shortcut road) 575 001 get lost as none of the four crossroads have boards except for the “2nd Cross Lane Income Tax Enclave”.
This has been a long-standing demand of Ward 45 as guests/courier/deliverymen / ambulance / utilities struggle to find the right address. As Corporator of our community we ask that you ensure that a properly visible name board is posted in suitable places near Babugudda bus stop and a clear visible board at the entrance of the 4th crossroad. Your prompt action will be appreciated. A small step towards smart city.
It should be prioritised as it’s one of features that make a city ‘smart’
Sewerage water canal beside chakrapani temple attavara is clogged with plastic bags accumulated under the bridge. Area is stinking. Drainage water not flowing properly. During rainy season rain water flows with mud and dirt to low lying area towards Kmc hospital attavara.
During havy rain this storm water gutter overflows near the road.
No street light in the new pole recently installed.
Can we expect our corporation ecosystem and grievence addressing system will take note of this and do the needful...... ?
Dear sir.
Launching new system without proper ecosystem for implimentation is useless.
Shop Name : GLASS HOUSE ( Mubarak Towers , opp to Kiran stores)
There has been a Crockery and Glassware shop in BiBi Alabi road that has been operating from a small tent. All his paraphernalia and goods lies scattered on the road as well as pavement from one end to the other. This creates obstructions for people like us to walk.
Also the shop constructed in the front side of the building is Illegal.
Apart from causing traffic disruptions, it causes great discomfort to women, men and children.
Did you got any response from them?
I also posted on street light but till now no response from them
Please sir I hope Mangalore city corporation commissioner is very brilliant but sir.I am informed to you the elligel wine shop with bar.in Mangalore....1 ..wine gate .wine shope ellegale bar. 2. Prashanth wine shope ellegale bar..same like that so many ellegale bar is in Mangalore city. .if you honest officer .please cancel the all like this wineshop.licence....if you honest honest.officer.....
Any contact number where I can contact for street light area incharge.
Place - Hosabettu, Surathkal opp HP Petroleum Pump.
The street light opp to HP Petroleum pump, Hosabettu it is not working almost from 3 months, gave complain to the street incharge person but no respond.
The location address : OPP to HP Petroleum Pump NH66. Near Lotus Park
Ward No. Hosabettu, Surathkal
If you need any further information please contact lauretdsouza@gmail.com
Sir/ Madam,
We are constructing a house in Yekkeur Sadshiva Nagar, The plot next to our site is filled with Contaminated Water and causing problem to us. There are so many Mosquitoes, Snakes and reptiles which live in that water and come inside our construction house in the night time. This is very dangerous at the time of COVID, it is been informed to the respective Plot owner and also a complaint is registered to respective Corporator (Praveen Chandra Alwa), but no action is taken. Request you to kindly consider this issue on high priority and avoid any upcoming disease to people who stay.
Greetings,
I Aditya, resident of 1st cross Kodialguttu would like to bring to your kind notice that there is an urgent need of Speed Breaker in front of Leela Mansion because the vehicles coming from MG road and approaching concrete road come so fast that many times it has collided with vehicles coming from 1st cross and many had narrow escapes. All the other crosses of kodialguttu have space to sight the coming vehicles except 1st cross. So i request the concerned authorities to do the needful at the earliest .
Regards-Aditya Shetty.
Greetings.
I Aditya resident of kodialguttu 1st cross want to bring to your kind notice that there is an urgent need of Speed Breaker in front of Leela Mansion because the vehicles turning from MG road and approaching the concrete road have mistaken it to be runway.The vehicles coming especialily from 1st cross are unable to sight the vehicles .Many times narrow escapes.
Dear Sir/Madam
The street light on JM Road,exactly near Link ( D-addiction Centre) is working since more then Six months
Request you to kindly look into the matter.
Also in our area the street lights have not been changed to LED where as some places near our have been changed
Hope you will look into the matter at your earliest.
Regards
Robert Tauro
9892205483
good morning sir
chokkabettu near sonal compound there is no street light ......i request to you street light team please provide our street to ......street light.....thanks and with best regards.
the location address mobail number below
name........................................abdul basheer
mobail number .......................9845189367
complaind location.................near sonal compound chokkabettu
ward no....................................chokkabettu, surathkal
complaint................................there no street light fitted untill now only collecting street light amount on our ec bills.
Respected Sir / Madam,
The street lights on Vrindavan Road from Arcanet Feild [Third Cross ] to Forth Cross is not working.
The Road are in very dangerous condition and hence citizens cannot utilise the road especially at night.
The Location address is
District : DakshinaKannada
Name : Parthasarathi Kanchan
Mobile : 9743897377
Complain Location : Vrindavana Road, Hosabettu, 575019 Mangalore
Ward No : Hosabettu, Surathkal
Complaint : Four Street Lights are not working.
anybody got their grevences answered here
corporation lights of cemetrey not glowing since two months. On 1st November 2019 is holy souls day. Kindly repair the lights at the earliest.
Fr. Joseph J. Lobo
Parish Priest
Street light is not working since 15 days. On 23rd July 2019 complaint lodged with Mobile No7353933410. Till date they are not responding
hello / madam
Keeping the city clean is our duty. I know not everybody is following that. We need some awareness program
to keep our city clean green and hygenic. Its our duty to keep the environment clean and place around us.
But it is also the duty of Corporation to maintain the cleanliness aroud the city, in some parts of the city like market, near clock tower circle its not been getting cleaned from past few days. Please do the needfull for betterment of tomorrow
thank you
Dear Madam, I have purchased 1 BHK flat in Green City, Vamadapadav on October, 2013 and paid full amount to builder T3 Urban Developers LTD. As per agreement possession was in December, 2015 but still building is not ready.
There were 5 buildings in Green City and at a time builder started 3 buildings construction work. I have purchased middle of the building and that building 1st floor slab only completed and since long time work stopped.
Last year builder agreed to give me flat in 1st building but building’s interior work is still pending and since 1 year work totally stopped.
Presently builder is not picking call or not responding for query. It seems that he is cheating with me. Kindly help me to resolve this issue. I will be grateful to you.
Sir/Madam,
Four street lights are not working on Raghavendra Matt Road, Hosabettu, Surathkal since long.
The roads are in Shabby condition and hence difficult in the night to Padastrians.
Kindly arrange to replace the treet lights on Main road, Raghavendra Matt Road, Hosabettu, near and after the Areca Field.
the kalbavi road in kottara ashok nagar was provided with ugd pipe line during last year. as usual the centre of road was dug up in march 2018 for this purpose making the road not motorable during the monsoon of 2018.
the asphalt work is now planned now during nov2018 by mcc. this road is very narrow and not having the foot path or road side drain at all.
both the ugd agency as well as the asphalting agency have put the muck/soil on the sides of the road, making it now impossible to walk when there is traffic. also during monsoons , storm water from the entire stretch for about 500 ft will flow on this road itself which is diverted to my compound/pure water sump due to the faulty work of mcc.
in spite of repeated requests/complaints to the commissioner,corporators, engineers of mcc, publishing of the photos of the same in some news papers,action is yet to be taken.
now at least it is requested to remove all the above dumped muck /soil on either sides of this road which is also preventing the entry of monsoon water th the existing drain near the starting point of sagar court.
Street light not working at kulai kavinakallu 2nd street
Relevant department has to look into the matter seriously and work on it and mark the matter as closed so that its notified as closed. Its a good move for public and public workers to work hand in hand
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