A tragic incident occurred early on Saturday morning in River Ridge, Louisiana, when a man allegedly killed his wife and young child, and injured his two daughters before being fatally shot by police. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call made by the couple’s 13-year-old daughter. She reported that her father had shot and killed her mother and younger sibling around 4 a.m.
Sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto described listening to the 911 call as heartbreaking. “It’s devastating to hear the child make that call,” he said, calling her a brave little girl.
When police arrived at the family’s home, they found the bodies of a 40-year-old woman and a 2-year-old child in the hallway. The two older daughters were found injured, with a 9-year-old girl in critical condition. She was rushed to a hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. The eldest daughter, who had made the 911 call, had only a minor injury to her ankle.
Deputies continued searching the home and found the father in a back bedroom. He allegedly pulled out a gun, prompting police officers to shoot and kill him. Authorities have not identified the family members involved, and the motive behind the tragedy remains unclear. Sheriff Lopinto expressed shock over the event, saying, “I can’t imagine any answers that would explain this.” Investigations are ongoing.
This incident in Louisiana is part of a troubling trend of family tragedies. On Sunday, a similar event occurred in Pittsburgh, where a family of four was found dead in their home in North Sewickley Township. Police are investigating the incident, which they are treating as a triple murder-suicide. It was reported that the parents were found dead at the scene, and their two teenage children later died from their injuries. A 911 call from inside the home alerted authorities to the situation.
Both of these heartbreaking events have left communities in shock, and authorities are working hard to understand what led to these tragic losses.
