Four people were found dead Wednesday after a domestic-related incident at a home daycare in Hopkins, Minnesota, authorities said. Police identified the victims as a 41-year-old man, his 41-year-old wife, their 7-year-old daughter and a 78-year-old woman believed to be a relative. Investigators said the man killed the woman and child at the daycare, was responsible for the death in nearby Burnsville and then died by suicide. Six other children at the daycare were unharmed and reunited with their families.
| 1) | Police discover three victims at Hopkins daycare |
| 2) | Fourth victim found at a nearby Burnsville home |
| 3) | Children at the facility are accounted for |
| 4) | Investigators report no continuing public threat |
| 5) | Officials offer support to affected families |
Police discover three victims at Hopkins daycare
Hopkins police responded at about 9 a.m. local time Wednesday to a report of a stabbing at Brown Bear Daycare, a residence in the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North. Officers found a 41-year-old man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, along with his 41-year-old wife and 7-year-old daughter, who had stab wounds. Authorities said the man was believed to be the perpetrator and that the incident was isolated.
Fourth victim found at a nearby Burnsville home
A 78-year-old woman was later found stabbed to death at a residence in nearby Burnsville. Police said she was believed to be a relative of the family. Burnsville Police Chief Matt Smith said the deceased man had been living at that home. Authorities did not publicly identify any of the victims, and police said no note was found.
Children at the facility are accounted for
Six other children were inside the home daycare when the incident occurred. Police said they were not injured and were subsequently reunited with their families. A parent arriving to drop off a child contacted police, and investigators believe that person witnessed the incident. The circumstances surrounding the parent’s arrival were not further detailed.
Investigators report no continuing public threat
Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson said investigators believed there were no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to the public. The department described the deaths as an extremely tragic event for the community. Officers continued examining the daycare and the Burnsville residence as part of the investigation into what authorities characterized as a domestic-related homicide and suicide.
“There’s no worse scenario than this, where you drop off your child to somewhere you think is safe, and you get that phone call.”
Officials offer support to affected families
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city was prepared to provide resources requested by Hopkins officials. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office’s victim services division was ready to support people affected by the incident. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also expressed concern for the children and relatives dealing with the aftermath.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Four people died in Hopkins and Burnsville. |
| 2 | The suspected perpetrator died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. |
| 3 | Six daycare children were unharmed. |
| 4 | Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public. |
| 5 | Local and county officials offered assistance to affected families. |
Summary
Authorities are investigating a suspected murder-suicide that left four people dead across two Minnesota communities. The daycare children who were present were unharmed, while officials focused on supporting families and determining the full sequence of events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the incident occur?
The initial deaths were reported at Brown Bear Daycare, a home daycare on Tyler Avenue North in Hopkins, Minnesota. A fourth victim was found at a residence in nearby Burnsville.
How many children were at the daycare?
Six other children were inside the facility during the incident. Police said all six were unharmed and reunited with their families.
Is there an ongoing threat to the public?
Police said they believed there were no outstanding suspects and no ongoing threat to the public.