Police have identified the victims of a murder-suicide that occurred Tuesday night in Altoona, Pa, and left five children orphaned days before Christmas.
According to The Altoona Mirror, Fox and NBC’s WJAC, authorities said 34-year-old Brooke Raia (neé Zimmerman) and 39-year-old Blase Raia were found dead of apparent gunshot wounds in their home on Dartmouth Lane in Blair County on Tuesday evening.
Police responded to a call around 7:30 p.m.
Logan Township Police Chief Dave Hoover told The Altoona Mirror that the deaths appear to have been related to a domestic violence incident based on evidence at the scene.
Hoover said Blase appears to have shot Brooke in the head with a handgun before he turned the gun on himself in the basement of his home.
Four children were reportedly home at the time and the fifth called authorities when that child returned home and discovered the scene.
Hoover told The Altoona Mirror that Blair County Children, Youth and Family Services have placed the children with family members.
The investigation is ongoing and no further details have been reported at this time.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support the five children.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
