Minnesota man kills 3 relatives, including girl, before shooting himself at home daycare
A man stabbed his wife and 7-year-old daughter to death at a home daycare in Hopkins, Minnesota, before shooting himself, local officials say. Six other children were inside the home but were unharmed, and police believe the man is connected to the stabbing death of a 78-year-old relative in Burnsville.
Hopkins police were called to the home daycare in the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North at about 9 a.m. on Wednesday after a person arrived to drop off a child and witnessed what was happening inside the residence, according to Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson.
Officers found a 41-year-old woman and her 7-year-old daughter dead from stab wounds in the basement. The woman’s 41-year-old husband was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on an upper floor.
Six other children were in the basement during the attack, but officers were able to safely evacuate them. None of the children were physically injured and they were quickly reunited with their families.
The person who called 911 identified the man as the attacker. Chief Johnson described those involved as a husband, wife and daughter, although he said investigators were still working to determine the couple’s current relationship and living situation.
Police had not received any previous calls involving the home or daycare. A motive has not been determined.
At about 12:23 p.m., police in Burnsville were called to a home near Maple Island Road and Joplin Avenue after a family member found a 78-year-old woman dead. Police said she had been stabbed and was a close relative of the suspect.
The man had recently been living at the Burnsville home, according to Burnsville Police Chief Matt Smith. Investigators believe the Burnsville killing occurred before the attack in Hopkins and that the two cases are connected.
“Any event involving the loss of life is difficult, but when children are involved, it is especially devastating,” Chief Johnson said.
The names of the three victims and the suspect have not been released. Both investigations remain active, but police said there are no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to the public.
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