ATLANTIC CITY — Sunil Rattu and his girlfriend, Radha Ghetia, were planning for their future.

The couple, who had graduated nursing school together, were to take their licensing exams later this month.

Rattu hoped to start his own health care business, a vision he had outlined for family members at a party late Saturday.

But shortly after midnight, the Middlesex County couple headed to an Atlantic City casino, and their plans were tragically cut short.

According to police and family members, around 8 a.m. Sunday in the parking garage of the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, the two were accosted by three men as they prepared to drive home.

The encounter turned into a carjacking that led to the killing of Rattu, 28, of Old Bridge, and the wounding of 24-year-old Ghetia of Sayreville.

"They had big dreams, but now their dreams are gone and our dreams are gone," said Praveen Kaul, Rattu’s brother-in-law.

Family members said they learned that before firing the shot, the attackers had said they wouldn't hurt the couple.

"Why would they do it? We’re still looking for why," asked Rattu’s brother, Anil "Sunny" Rattu, seated in the dinning room of the family’s Old Bridge home, where relatives gathered Monday, several weeping uncontrollably.

Rattu, who had five sisters and a brother, planned to marry Ghetia within the next two years, family members said.

Born in India, he came to the United States with his family when he was about 4 years old. He graduated from Linden High School, relatives said. While attending Pinelands School of Practical Nursing and Allied Health in Jackson, ran a Fleet service station off Route 70 in Jackson, one of two owned by his father. He wanted to start a business so his father could retire.

"He was going to take care of my dad," said Rattu’s sister, Meelan Chand.

Pinelands admissions director Diana Nobleza said both Rattu and Ghetia were "dedicated" students, and that after receiving his licensed practical nursing diploma, Rattu had hoped to become a registered nurse. "It’s very tragic," she said. "We can’t believe this happened."

The couple were at a going-away party for a relative in Old Bridge until about 12:45 a.m. Sunday, when they decided to go to the Taj Mahal casino, family members said.

Originally, Rattu planned to go to New York City, relatives said, but changed his mind. He went to the casinos three or four times a year, they said.

At about 6 a.m. Sunday, Rattu called his mother saying they were eating breakfast and would soon be coming home, family members said.

Less than two hours later, however, according to police and relatives, when the couple went to Ghetia’s Land Rover and opened the door, robbers forced their way into the vehicle. At least one had a gun.

Ghetia was forced to drive with one bandit in the passenger seat, and Rattu between two men in the back. The suspects had her drive several blocks to an alley, where they robbed the couple of a small amount of cash and ordered them out of the vehicle, said family members and police.

Then a gunman inside the vehicle allegedly fired through the closed window, killing Rattu. The robbers abandoned the SUV and ran, relatives said; Ghetia, whose neck was grazed by a bullet, went for help.

She has identified three men, their photos captured on a security camera, as the attackers, relatives said.

Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said there is evidence the three suspects had cased other casino parking garages before the abduction.

The incident was the second fatal carjacking connected to the Taj Mahal casino in 16 months, but authorities said that was "random coincidence."

On May 21, 2010, Martin Caballero, 47, of North Bergen, was abducted, carjacked from the Taj Mahal parking garage and fatally stabbed after dropping his family off at the casino’s front door, and going to park his car. Two suspects are charged in that case.

Previous coverage:

• 1 dead, 1 wounded after Atlantic City carjacking

