Deadly confrontation in Prineville, connecticutended in a murder-suicide involving a local man named Patrick King. King first shot his girlfriend and child at a home on Milford Street before turning the gun on himself on Friday, March 27.
Police and a SWAT team were called to the scene on Milford Street following reports of a domestic disturbance, sparking a massive emergency response that lasted several hours before officers entered the house.
Victim and suspect identified
A woman called authorities on Friday to report that her brother, Patrick J. King, 27, had called her claiming to have shot his girlfriend and their 4-year-old daughter, Prineville Chief Chris Vangele said at a news conference Saturday morning.
The victims were identified as Felicia Matthews, 31, their 4-year-old daughter, Ava R. King, and Melina Matthews, 12, Matthews’ daughter from a previous relationship.
Melina Matthews, a Prineville middle school student, and her family moved into the Milford Street home in January, authorities revealed at a news conference.
The tragic incident has caused uproar in the local community, with neighbors describing the area as quiet and expressing disbelief at what happened.
SWAT response and discovery at home
According to Vanghele, King called his sister and mother at 3:53 p.m. before the sister called 911.
Authorities initially responded to reports of a potentially armed man trapped inside the residence, leading to the deployment of a SWAT team and crisis negotiators.
after step sister 911 After receiving the call, police established a perimeter around the Milford Street residence and dispatched SWAT teammade up of police officers from various communities.
Police sent a drone into King’s home and a negotiator tried to contact King by cell phone to negotiate his surrender. After about two hours of bargaining, police used pepper gas at King’s home to force King to surrender, according to Van Geller.
When the pepper spray erupted, King shot himself. Police performed life-saving procedures, but King was eventually pronounced dead, Van Geller said at a news conference.
The weapon King used to shoot himself and his family was registered, and King had a license to carry the weapon.
Police later entered Kim’s home and found Felicia, Ava and Melina shot to death.
