A man shot his two children in the head, killing one while the other remains in critical condition, shortly after their mother had taken them to bed and kissed them goodnight, Florida sheriff Chad Chronister revealed in a press conference this week. The incident was said to have taken place on Monday night, around 10:30 PM in Tampa, Florida, when the mom took her kids to their bedroom and tucked them in their bunk beds.
According to Chronister, who says the parents’ names are being kept under wraps for the time being to protect the identities of the children, the mother then headed towards the bathroom before hearing several gunshots, which she assumed were coming from outside of her property.
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She briefly left the house to see what the commotion was, where she was met by her neighbor who told her they had already called law enforcement officers. It was at this moment when her husband came outside while holding their son and repeatedly yelled “call for help.” As cops arrived, they found the couple’s five-year-old daughter’s body “laying in a pool of blood” after being shot two to three times in the head while the boy was taken to a nearby hospital “fighting for his life.” The girl has since been pronounced dead.
“This is a case and an experience that no parent should have to live through and that no law enforcement officer or first responder should ever have to witness,” Chronister added.
“We as a sheriff’s office are struggling today. I don’t know why he did this, and I don’t know if we’ll ever know,” Chronister said. “You don’t accidentally shoot your children three to four times in the head.”
The deputies and detectives who were called to the scene are being offered counseling as the gruesome incident was challenging for anyone to understand. The unidentified dad is said to be facing first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and aggravated child abuse in association with the disturbing killing of one of his children earlier this week.
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There were no previous records showing that the police had ever visited the family’s home prior to Monday’s incident, which has left investigators scrambling for clues as to why the dad would have “accidentally” shot at both of his kids late at night — particularly because he fired multiple bullets.
The case is still being investigated.
I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. I remember seeing some pretty horrific stuff on the news back in those days. But nothing compares to this. So sad. Five year old girl’s life is over.