A 10-year-old boy survives after his mother and three brothers were shot dead by his father in an apparent murder-suicide.
As per statements from Oklahoma City law enforcement, Jonathon Candy, aged 42, fatally shot his wife, Lindsay Candy, aged 39, following an altercation between the couple.
The man proceeded to fatally shoot three of their four children, identified as Dylan Candy, aged 18, Ethan Candy, aged 14, and Lucas Candy, aged 12, on April 22. Jonathon ultimately took his own life in the tragic incident.
Oklahoma Father Kills Family in Murder-Suicide
A 10-year-old boy in Oklahoma City was discovered together with the lifeless bodies of his parents and three older brothers, victims of an apparent murder-suicide, as reported by authorities.
Authorities from the Oklahoma City Police Department stated that the boy's father systematically moved through the residence from late Sunday night to early Monday morning, fatally shooting his sons following the shooting of his wife.
Master Sgt. Gary Knight, speaking at a press conference, described the tragic event as the children being "hunted down and killed."
Remarkably, the father spared his youngest son, the 10-year-old, who eventually contacted the authorities, remaining unharmed throughout the ordeal.
Sgt. Knight expressed the bafflement shared by many, stating, "We don't know why he was left unharmed."
He added, "I know that's the question everybody has, that's the question we have, too. In the end, nobody's ever gonna know the answer to that."
The victims of this devastating incident include a 39-year-old woman, identified as the mother of the children and the suspect's wife, along with a 42-year-old male, identified as the suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after fatally shooting his wife and three eldest sons.
The sons were aged 18, 14, and 12, with the youngest victim having just celebrated his twelfth birthday in March.
No Reports of Domestic Abuse
At approximately 9:35 a.m. on Monday morning, April 22, the child promptly contacted the authorities, alerting them to the distressing situation unfolding at the residence near Yukon, located roughly 20 miles west of downtown Oklahoma City.
Upon arrival, law enforcement found the 10-year-old outside the house. Subsequently, they entered the residence, discovering the bodies of the five victims mentioned earlier.
After confirming that no lives could be saved, law enforcement officials left the premises and awaited a warrant to initiate the scene processing. The child was then placed in the care of a relative, although specifics regarding the relative were not disclosed.
Investigations revealed that the suspected perpetrator engaged in a confrontation with his wife, culminating in him arming himself and firing multiple shots at her. He then proceeded to different areas of the house, fatally shooting his sons. The motive behind these tragic killings remains elusive, according to Knight. Notably, the bodies were found in various locations within the two-story house.
Knight elaborated on the spatial distribution of the victims, mentioning that one male victim and the female victim were discovered downstairs, while two male victims were located upstairs.
Details regarding the exact circumstances of the shootings, other than the female victim, remain uncertain.
Based on police assessments, the suspected perpetrator initiated his violent actions downstairs, progressed to the upper floor, and then returned to the ground level, where he ultimately took his own life.
During the press briefing, Knight highlighted the absence of documented domestic issues within the couple's history.
However, authorities plan to engage with acquaintances and family members to gain further insights into their relationship dynamics. He emphasized that there were no prior reports or indications of domestic violence within the family.
"We had no indication that anything like this was going to happen," remarked Knight.
He also noted that while such incidents often correlate with documented domestic violence cases and protective measures, this particular family had not drawn attention in that regard, remaining relatively unnoticed.
