Authorities: Man, 2 children killed in apparent murder-suicide in Ariz.; woman critically hurt

3 dead, 1 hurt in apparent murder-suicide in Ariz.

FLORENCE, Ariz. — Authorities say a man and two children are dead and a woman is in critical condition after an apparent murder-suicide southeast of Phoenix.

Pinal County sheriff’s deputies were called to a San Tan Valley home Tuesday evening to conduct a welfare check on the family.

Deputies say they entered the home and found the bodies of a 45-year-old man, a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. They say the dead man’s 37-year-old wife was flown to a hospital and is reported to be in critical condition.

Sheriff’s spokesman Tim Gaffney says all the victims were shot, but it’s not clear yet if the man or woman was the shooter. It’s also uncertain whether the man is the biological father of both children.

Gaffney says the victims’ names are being withheld until relatives are notified.