Facebook Post Reveals Duluth Man's Plan To Kill Family: Report

DULUTH, MN — The Duluth man whom police identified as the killer in Wednesday's murder-suicide posted about his plans on social media beforehand.

Brandon Taylor Cole-Skogstad shot and killed four of his family members and the family dog in their Duluth home before fatally shooting himself, according to authorities. He killed his aunt, uncle and two cousins while they were sleeping, police said.

In a Facebook post reviewed by the Star Tribune, Cole-Skogstad detailed that he planned to kill his family members, including his "two sweet, beyond angelic cousins."

His cousins were ages 12 and 9.

Cole-Skogstad also detailed his struggles with mental illness, saying "I almost never sought out help because I felt I never deserved it."

"I wish so badly to go back and make better choices in life," he continued. "Ignore the hatred thrown at me by my peers for so long. I wish I could have just accepted the love I was given by my family I loved so much, but couldn't express it."

"Good bye now. I love you all," he said in another post, according to the Star Tribune.

Police identified the victims Thursday as Riana Lou Barry, 44, Sean Christopher Barry, 47, and their two daughters, Shiway Elizabeth Barry, 12, and Sadie Lucille Barry, 9.

"In my 30 years of policing, I have never seen anything like this," Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken said in a statement.

"On every level, this incident is deeply painful for our community," Mayor Emily Larson said. "There is only loss to every part of this story. To the Barry family: our community mourns with you and we share in your pain. Because your loss is our community's loss."

Around 11:20 a.m. Wednesday, Hermantown police were called to the 4100 block of Timber Lane Drive to check in on Cole-Skogstad. Officers were not able to find him.

After more outreach, Hermantown police spoke with a family member who said that Cole-Skogstad sent a message saying that he intended to harm himself and other family members.

Hermantown officers then alerted police in Duluth and gave them the address of Cole-Skogstad's aunt and uncle's house in the 700 block of East 12th Street. Duluth police learned of Cole-Skogstad's message before they approached the house, Tusken said.

Just before 12:30 p.m., Duluth officers knocked on the door and heard a single gunshot. Officers did "a tactical retreat" and requested help from the Superior Police Department and the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office to secure the scene, Tusken said.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, Duluth police used robots to gain access to the home. However, the robots weren't able to get through the entire house, so authorities sent in a tactical team.

Once inside, officers found five bodies, including Cole-Skogstad and the family dog, Tusken said.

A 9 mm handgun was found near Cole-Skogstad's body, according to the chief.

Tusken said there were no previous 911 calls from Cole-Skogstad's home in Hermantown or the Barry family's home that might indicate "a pattern of behavior or concerns" about Cole-Skogstad.

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org or texting HOME to 741741.