A New Hampshire mother shot her husband and two young children before taking her own life in their Madbury home, investigators said.
This is the second murder suicide involving a mother in New Hampshire this year, with the previous case taking place just three months ago in Pembroke.
On Monday, police discovered the bodies of Emily Long, 34, her husband Ryan Long, 48, their son Parker, 8, and their daughter Ryan, age 6, inside their Moharimet Drive home.
All four had suffered gunshot wounds. A third child, a toddler, was found alive and physically unharmed.
Autopsies conducted on Thursday confirmed that Ryan Long died from multiple gunshot wounds, with his death ruled a homicide. Emily Long died from a single gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a suicide, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.
The two children each died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the head.
Investigators said all available information indicated Emily used a handgun from the home to kill her husband and her two children before turning the weapon on herself.
Ryan Long, the father, worked as a school psychologist in the Oyster River Cooperative School District.
In a statement posted on the district’s website, Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps said the district is “heartbroken by the tragic loss of four community members.”
“We have partnered with local school districts and organizations to provide mental health support for our students and their families, and our staff,” Shaps wrote. “As we prepare for the coming school year, our commitment remains to the well-being of our students, staff, and their families.”
Since the deaths, the Attorney General’s Office said it has become aware of several concerns within the household leading up to the tragedy and cautioned the public against assuming the event was driven by a single cause or stressor.
In May in Pembroke, 26-year-old Julia Byrne, a single mom and military veteran, shot her three-year-old son, Blake, before turning the gun on herself.
Her father told the Monitor that she had been struggling with her mental health after coming home from service in December.
If you need help
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
NH Rapid Response Access Point: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, call/text 1-833-710-6477 to speak to trained clinical staff.