A man allegedly killed his wife and their 7-year-old daughter at an in-home daycare in Hopkins, Minnesota, before turning the gun on himself Wednesday morning as several young children watched, authorities said.
Background
The Brown Bear Childcare was normally a place where parents felt safe dropping off their little ones. That sense of security shattered around 9 a.m. when police responded to a stabbing at the home on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North. Inside, officers discovered three people dead: two adults, both 41, and a young girl.
Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson described the scene as one that would haunt first responders forever. Six other children under the age of 5 were inside during the attack but escaped unharmed.
A parent who had dropped off their child witnessed parts of the violence unfolding and immediately called 911, officials said. Officers arriving on scene found a devastation that Chief Johnson said he could read on the faces of his team members.
"This was one of those ones that you'll remember throughout your entire career, if not life," the chief said at a press conference.
The Investigation
Hours after the daycare attack, authorities responded to a home on Maple Island Road and Joplin Avenue in Burnsville, about 15 miles away. There, they found the body of a 78-year-old woman who had been stabbed to death.
The same man responsible for the deaths at Brown Bear Childcare is believed to have killed this victim earlier that morning. Police said he had been living with the older woman and described her as a close relative, though they declined to specify their exact relationship.
All three victims were related to each other, Chief Johnson confirmed during his remarks to reporters. The suspect's name has not been released pending notification of family members.
Investigators are still working to determine what motivated the violence across both scenes. Police have not identified any prior incidents or warning signs that preceded Wednesday's events.
Key Takeaways
- Three people were killed at Brown Bear Childcare in Hopkins: a 41-year-old woman who owned the daycare, her husband, and their 7-year-old daughter
- Six other children present during the attack were unharmed; they were later reunited with their parents
- A 78-year-old woman was found dead about 15 miles away in Burnsville; authorities believe the same suspect is responsible
- The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police
What's Next
Both cases remain under active investigation by the Hopkins Police Department and Burnsville Police Department. Authorities have not released any information about potential motives or the relationship between the victims beyond confirming they were all family members.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension may become involved as the investigation progresses, though officials have not announced whether state authorities have been formally requested.