Rhode Island police revealed on Wednesday that an incident involving a family of four found dead has been determined to be a case of murder-suicide.
Nicholas Arruda, aged 39, was reported to have fatally shot his wife, Danielle Arruda, also 39, along with their two children, Adele and Felex, aged 5 and 2. Tragically, Danielle Arruda was seven months pregnant at the time of the heartbreaking event, which occurred sometime between New Year’s Day and January 2.
The disturbing scene unfolded last Friday when a concerned co-worker of Danielle Arruda contacted the authorities after she failed to show up for work for several days. Following the tip-off, police entered the family’s residence in West Greenwich to find the lifeless bodies of the four individuals, located adjacent to an M4-type semi-automatic firearm.
West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay revealed that Danielle Arruda and her two children were shot several times with a semi-automatic firearm. Nicholas Arruda died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot to the head, suggesting he was the gunman, according to Boston.com.
Police also noted that the only door accessible from the outside was locked from the inside, indicating their deaths were not the result of a break-in. A motive remains undisclosed.
Ramsey said two other guns were discovered in the home. Both were purchased legally.
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