A horrific incident unfolded in Verdigris, Oklahoma, where a woman and three children were discovered deceased in their home after an extended standoff with law enforcement. The heartbreaking event, currently under investigation as a murder-suicide, has left the community reeling.
The tragedy began Thursday afternoon when patrolling officers noticed fireworks emanating from a residence. Upon closer inspection, they found a woman and two children confined to the garage. The woman recounted being locked in by an armed woman who had also taken another child into the house. Officers managed to rescue the woman and children from the garage, but the situation quickly escalated into a three-hour standoff involving multiple agencies, including a SWAT team.
Tragically, when police finally gained entry to the home, they discovered the bodies of the armed woman and the three children, all bearing gunshot wounds. A handgun was recovered at the scene. It has been reported that police had previously responded to calls at the residence for domestic disturbances and mental health issues. The relationship between the two women remains unclear.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has taken the lead on the investigation. The identities and ages of the victims haven't been publicly released. This devastating incident underscores the grim statistics surrounding murder-suicides. According to the Violence Policy Center, nearly 600 such incidents occur annually in the U.S., resulting in 1,000 to 1,500 deaths. The majority involve intimate partners and occur within the home. The Gun Violence Archive reports 382 murder-suicide incidents so far in 2023, a figure that could potentially surpass the 670 reported in 2022.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741.
