A MOTHER and her child were found dead in their basement shortly before a suspect in their murder killed himself in a different state, officials say.
The bodies of the 31-year-old woman and her daughter, six, were discovered by police on Thursday in Dayton, Ohio, after someone made a call to 911.
WHNT-TV reported that the suspect in the investigation was found in Falkville, Alabama, and had killed himself with a gun, according to WKRG.
The suspect is identified as Dante Rashad Hawes, 32, of Dayton, Ohio, and he was found dead inside a vehicle Thursday afternoon, according to the Associated Press.
On Friday, Dayton police confirmed that the suspect was the 31-year-old victim’s boyfriend.
WKRG reported the 911 call came from the suspect’s father. Police confirmed that the caller was the suspect’s father and the owner of the victim’s house and his own neighboring house.
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“I need somebody to come do a wellness check. My son dropped my granddaughter off last night, and I just came over here and he’s not here. My granddaughter said they were fighting,” the 911 caller allegedly said, according to News Center 7.
A dispatcher allegedly asked the caller “do you think something happened?”
“I’m not sure. I just opened the door and just screamed everyone’s names and no one’s answering,” the caller answered.
Police had responded to a domestic dispute the night before the bodies were found.
The altercation between the 31-year-old woman and her live-in boyfriend started over a dispute about a PlayStation five video gaming system, according to Dayton Police Maj. Brian Johns.
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The suspect had been living with his girlfriend for about a year-and-a-half, Johns said.
Police had spent about an hour at the house before leaving at about 1 a.m., according to Dayton247Now. At the time, police didn’t file a report and no arrests were made, Johns said.
Investigators believe the suspect shot the mother and daughter shortly after officers left.
The suspect’s 9-year-old daughter was also home during the incident but was found safe by the Dayton Police Department.
Johns said the suspect didn’t have a criminal history that would indicate violence.
Dayton Police Major Jason Hall said the homicide squad was called to investigate due to the scene inside the home.
It’s still early in the investigation, but Hall said officials believe a firearm was involved.
The identities of the victims have not been released at this time.
The U.S. Sun contacted the Dayton Police Department to ask for identification but has not received an update by the time of publication.
“It’s not common that a welfare check results in this type of situation,” Hall said.
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Neighbors were shocked to hear about the double homicide.
“I might have expected it somewhere else but not like literally right across the street and not from them they’re so quiet. It’s sad to come home and see this,” neighbor Tyler Abner told WKRG.
