Hopkins Daycare Deaths Were Apparent Murder-Suicide: Police

HOPKINS, MN — Police say the three people who died at Brown Bear Home Day Care in Hopkins Wednesday morning were killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson said a parent dropping off their child at the daycare on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North reported the scene just after 9 a.m. and is believed to have witnessed part of the incident.

A man, woman and child were found dead inside the home, and all three are believed to be part of the same family, the Star Tribune reported.

Johnson said the adults were likely the daycare's owners.

Six other young children were at the daycare at the time and were unharmed, according to KSTP. Officers were able to get them out and reunite them with their families.

Johnson said investigators are still working to determine the nature of the victims' injuries and what weapons were involved. Police believe the incident was isolated and that the perpetrator, believed to be the deceased man, took his own life. There is no threat to the public.

"There's no worse scenario than this," Johnson said. Parents trust the daycare to keep their children safe, he said, which makes the news especially devastating for families in the community.

Police are expected to hold another briefing around 4 p.m.

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