BREAKING: Father Shot, Killed Girlfriend, Their 2 Kids, Set House On Fire, Prosecutor Says

A serious fire that killed a family of four was actually a murder-suicide plot carried out by the father, Lyndon “Shane” Beharry, authorities said.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office ruled that Beharry’s children, 7-year-old Brandon and 4-year-old Brian, and his common-law wife, 29-year-old Amanda Morris, were shot to death in their second-floor apartment, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

The father, Lyndon “Shane” Beharry, 35, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the MCPO.

Long Branch firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday, reporting a fire at 245 Joline Avenue in the city. Once on scene, Long Branch fire officials elevated the fire to a two-alarm fire and requested assistance from additional fire personnel Long Branch, West Long Branch, Sea Bright, Oakhurst, Oceanport and Eatontown fire companies, according to the MCPO.

The fire was quickly suppressed. Once able to enter the home, firefighters from the Long Branch Fire Department discovered the four people inside a second floor bedroom of the home. All four were transported to Monmouth Medical Center, where despite life-saving efforts all failed, according to the MCPO.

Lyndon Beharry is a 16-year employee of the Long Branch Public Works Department.

The origin and cause of the fire remains under investigation, but it did not appear to be accidental, according to the MCPO.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Detective Pamela Ricciardi, of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Rich O’Brien of the Long Branch Police Department at 732-222-1000.

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Doyle.