4 Dead, Including 2 Children, In Apparent Murder-Suicide In Connecticut

PLAINVILLE, CT — A man is accused of fatally shooting three people, including two children, and then killing himself Friday, according to media reports.

Police said Patrick J. King, 27, is accused of shooting his girlfriend, Felisha Matthews, 31; Mileena Matthews, 12; and Ava R. King, 4, in a murder-suicide Friday night in a Milford Street home in Plainville, according to media reports.

King engaged in a standoff with police for two hours before shooting himself, according to WFSB 3 TV.

When police entered the home, they found three people deceased, including the two children, WFSB 3 TV reports.

The family had just moved into town in January. It's unclear what the motive was for the fatal shootings.

Police learned of the shootings around 4 p.m. Friday, when the accused's sister called 911 saying her brother said he shot his girlfriend and Ava King, WTNH News 8 reports.

During the standoff between King and police, police used pepper spray to gain entry, and that is when King shot himself, WTNH News 8 reports.

“This is a horrific event that we’re going through,” said Plainville town manager Michael T. Paulhus, according to WFSB 3 TV. “It is a dark day and a dark hour at this moment.”

NBC Connecticut said Ava King was the daughter of both Matthews and Patrick King and that Mileena Matthews was the daughter of Felicia Matthews by a different father. She attended a local middle school.

Police Chief Christopher Vanghele said via NBC CT that "This is a very dark day for the Town of Plainville, and for Connecticut.

Read more at WFSB 3 TV.

Read more at WTNH News 8.

Read more at NBC CT.