'He Turned Into a Monster': Son Kills Mom, Then Fatally Shoots Himself

CHICAGO, IL — A mother and son were found dead Tuesday in a West Town apartment after an almost five-hour standoff with a SWAT team, according to reports.

The bodies of Loretta Purcell, 82, and Christopher Kelly Purcell, 58, were discovered when police entered the building in the 800 block of North Wolcott Avenue at around 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News.

Kelly Purcell's younger brother Sean called 911 at around 5 p.m. after his sibling pulled a gun and fired at him, according to the Chicago Tribune. Kelly, who battled alcoholism and mental illness for years, had invited Sean and their mother to the family's apartment, but Sean fled once Kelly began shooting, the report added.

By the time police arrived, Kelly Purcell had barricaded himself and his mother inside the building, keeping officers and a SWAT unit outside for nearly five hours, the report stated. The family believes Loretta Purcell had been killed before authorities reached the scene, the report added.

Loretta Purcell's death was ruled a homicide, and the Cook County medical examiner determined that she died from multiple sharp force injuries, the report stated. Kelly Purcell's body was found with a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled to be a suicide, the report added.

Kelly had a contentious relationship with his family, according to his other younger brother Kevin. He also had threatened suicide in the past, but family members didn't take him seriously.

"He turned into a monster. He was not thinking right and now we have to deal with the consequences."

More via the Chicago Tribune

UPDATED (7:11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26)

photo via Shutterstock

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