State Police Believe Mom Shot 3 Kids, Killing 2, Before Shooting Herself In N.J. Home
TABERNACLE, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New Jersey State Police on Friday that they have concluded a 44-year-old woman shot and killed two of her children, and wounded a third, before shooting and wounding herself in Burlington County.
Nadia Harriman, 8, and her brother Nicholas, 14, were killed in the shooting. Their 11-year-old brother, Alexander, remained in critical condition late Friday afternoon.
The children were found shot Thursday along with their mother, 44-year-old Jeaninne LePage, who had a single gunshot wound to her head. She was also reported in critical condition.
Detectives worked throughout the day Thursday and overnight conducting interviews and collecting evidence. They spoke with the children's father and other friends of LePage's, and spoke with the Burlington County Prosecutor's office to relay their findings, according to a news release.
While the investigation is ongoing, state police said they have enough evidence to believe that LePage shot the three children and then turned the gun on herself.
Whether charges will be filed against LePage depends on whether she survives her own injuries, state police said.
State police also said a pillow was used to muffle the sound of the gunshots, and none of the other five people in the house heard anything.
The weapon used in the shooting was a revolver that was kept in the house, and may have belonged to a relative who died some time back, state police said. The weapon was found near LePage, state police said.
The shooting took place in the upstairs bedroom, state police said.
Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood conducted autopsies Friday, and the reports and findings from the autopsies may be released at a later date, state police said.
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