Police release more details in West Greenwich murder
WEST GREENWICH − A 39-year-old West Greenwich man last week shot and killed his pregnant wife and two children, and then died by suicide, police said Wednesday morning.
West Greenwich Police Chief Richard N. Ramsay identified those killed as 39-year-old Danielle Arruda, her five-year-old daughter Adele and two-year-old son Felex. The shooter was identified as 39-year-old Nicholas Arruda.
The shooting happened between 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day and 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 2 inside the family’s home on Cheyenne Trail, a neighborhood close to the shores if Lake Mishnock.
Their bodies were found on Jan. 3, when officers went to check on the well-being of Arruda, who hadn’t gone to work. They arrived at around 10:13 a.m. and found “suspicious circumstances,” that led them to force entry into the home.
“I wish there could be an explanation to help you make sense of this horrific act,” Ramsay said. “But the truth is we may never know why it happened.”
A stuffed animal toy and bouquets of flowers on the porch of a West Greenwich home where police say they found four bodies on Friday.
Four bodies plus an ‘unborn child’
Inside the home, the officers found four bodies, Ramsay said. The bodies exhibited multiple gunshot wounds and it appeared that gunfire was the cause of death.
“Once inside the home,” said Ramsay, “officers immediately noticed the bodies of two young children, an adult male and a pregnant female. It was apparent there were no signs of life to any of the bodies and that all four had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.”
The exterior door was locked from inside the home. Nicholas Arruda died from a self-inflicted single gunshot wound, Ramsay said.
Lying on the ground next to him was an M4 semi-automatic weapon, Ramsay said.
Nicholas Arruda had a domestic violence record in his past that did not involve Danielle Arruda,” Ramsay said, and it appeared he acquired the M4 weapon legally.
State police and West Greenwich police are jointly investigating the deaths.
If you or someone you know might be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255, or chat online at 988lifeline.org
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: West Greenwich police release details in ‘horrific’ killing of pregnant woman, kids
Source link
