Four dead in suspected murder-suicide, Phoenix police say

By David Schwartz, Reuters

 

PHOENIX — Police responding to reports of gunfire found four people dead in and around a northeast Phoenix house Tuesday in what they said may be a triple murder followed by a suicide.
The suspected gunman, who was found dead in an alley behind the house with what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was estranged or separated from a woman whose burned body was found in the backyard, police Sgt. Trent Crump said.
Police believe the man was served with an order of protection in a court appearance Tuesday and the woman had gone to the house to pick up belongings, Crump said. He did not identify any of the victims.
Police found a man dead in front of the house when they responded to the report of shots fired and a teenage girl dead inside when they entered the home, Crump said.