Questions remain after two adults and two children were found dead at a Madbury, New Hampshire, home on Monday night.
The slain family members were 34-year-old Emily Long and 48-year-old Ryan Long and their son Parker Long, 8, and daughter Ryan Long, 6, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. All had been shot, and investigators are treating it as a potential murder-suicide. A toddler who survived unharmed has not been publicly identified and is now staying with other family members.
The motive is not yet known, and authorities also haven’t said who the shooter was. Autopsies were scheduled to be conducted Wednesday and could help answer some of those questions, including the cause and manner of death.
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Authorities confirmed Tuesday that the father was a school psychologist at Oyster River Middle School in nearby Durham.
“He was a great support for the kids,” said Shannon Zlotkowski, an Oyster River parent.
Oyster River Superintendent Robert Shaps released a statement Wednesday responding to the tragedy.
“The Oyster River Cooperative School District community is heartbroken by the tragic loss of four community members,” he said. “We extend our deepest sympathies to all those impacted during this incredibly difficult time.”
Shaps said the school district has partnered with area school districts and organizations to provide mental health support for students, families and staff. The first day of school in the district is on Aug. 27.
“As we prepare for the coming school year, our commitment remains to the well-being of our students, staff, and their families,” Shaps said in his statement. “Out of respect for everyone involved, we will not be making further comments.”
The state AG’s office says a third child was also in the home and was unhurt.
Police responded to the home on Moharimet Drive in Madbury on Monday night in response to a 911 call, according to the attorney general’s office. The caller said several people were dead inside the home.
Upon arrival, troopers found the 911 callers and entered the home, where they found the bodies of two adults and two children. A third child, a toddler, was found alive and uninjured.
The attorney general’s office said each of the dead family members appears to have suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
Madbury, a town of fewer than 2,000 residents, is located in Strafford County, just one town over from the University of New Hampshire.
Neighbors were in shock Tuesday.
“There’s now way to put in words how much of a tragedy this is,” neighbor Mark Saunders said.
“The whole neighborhood is trying to pull together,” said Bill Hall, a neighborhood dog walker now taking care of the Long family’s dogs, Cooper and Pasta.
Marc Fortier, Mary Markos and Asher Klein
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