NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Cobb County, GA, July 10, 2026 — A 57-year-old Georgia Tech alumna, technology executive, and longtime mentor in Atlanta’s tech community was fatally shot in her Cobb County home this week, and her husband has been charged with her murder after authorities say he also shot their adult son.
Cobb County Police identified the victim as Shital “Sheetal” Wrzesien, 57. Her husband, Kirk B. Wrzesien, 56, was arrested at the scene and charged with felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond.
The couple’s adult son, Jason Wrzesien, was also shot during the incident and was transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Police have not released an update on his condition.
Officers responded around 8 p.m. Tuesday to a residence on Laurel Creek Trail near Smyrna after receiving reports of a shooting. They found Jason suffering from a gunshot wound. While searching the home, officers discovered Shital Wrzesien dead from a gunshot wound. Investigators have not disclosed a motive, and the case remains under investigation.
Beyond the tragic circumstances of her death, Wrzesien was widely respected for her accomplishments in the technology industry and her service to her alma mater.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech in 1994 and built a distinguished career spanning more than two decades in software engineering and digital transformation. She most recently served as an engineering leader at Google and previously held leadership roles at Home Depot, where she helped lead the company’s mobile and digital transformation initiatives. Earlier in her career, she worked in weather technology and financial technology and was named as an inventor on two U.S. software patents.
A dedicated supporter of Georgia Tech, Wrzesien served on the Advisory Board of the College of Computing and on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association. She was also known for mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for greater participation of women in technology.
According to her Georgia Tech biography, Wrzesien grew up in England, India, and Ghana before moving to the United States to study computer science. She lived in metro Atlanta with her husband and their two children, Jason and Jessica.
In a public social media post celebrating Jason’s admission to Georgia Tech several years ago, Wrzesien wrote that she and her husband were “so proud” of their son—an expression of family pride that now stands in stark contrast to the violence that unfolded inside their home.
Authorities have not said what led to the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or by texting START to 88788. In Georgia, the Georgia Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-33-HAVEN (1-800-334-2836).
Members of the South Asian community can also seek confidential, culturally specific support through Raksha Inc. (Georgia) at 404-876-0670 or 1-800-527-7285, and SOAR (South Asian Survivors’ Organization) in Georgia at 404-496-4090.
Cover photo courtesy: Georgia Tech Alumni Buzz.
