Five people, including two boys, were found dead in Minnesota in what appears to be four murder-suicides spread over two homes.
Shortly after 2 p.m., officers responded to a welfare check at a residence in the 6000 block of Tacony Street in Duluth, according to a statement from the Duluth Police Department. Police said the City of Superior employee was concerned about a co-worker not showing up for work.
They found two people, 47-year-old Erin Abramson and her son, 15-year-old Jacob Neuf, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Police said they identified the suspect, Anthony Nephew, 46, and set up surveillance at his residence, located about a mile northeast of the initial shooting scene.
Officers arrived with a drone and found two additional victims, 45-year-old Kathryn Nephew and her son, and 7-year-old Oliver Nephew, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Officers said they also found the suspect there, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Nephew Anthony was married to nephew Kathryn and was Oliver’s father. Duluth Police Chief Mike Seynowa said at a news conference Friday that he previously dated Erin Abramson and that Jacob Nephew is their son.
Seynowa added that officers had previously identified a pattern of mental health issues in Anthony Nepheuy during the investigation.
Police say there is no ongoing threat to the Duluth community.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and victims of this tragedy yesterday,” Seynowa said. “We also want to extend our condolences to both the Duluth and Superior communities as this is a senseless and tragic event.”
