Baby boy, 6-year-old girl among 4 dead in apparent murder-suicide at Illinois home: Police

The Will County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death.

February 28, 2019, 3:02 PM

Two young children were among four dead in what police are investigating as a murder-suicide at a home near Chicago, police said.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting at a home in Joliet Wednesday about 10:20 p.m, according to the city's police department. That's when they found the victims, including a 6-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy, dead on the second floor, police said.

"It appears at this time to be a murder-suicide. No one else is being sought," police said in a statement, adding there's no threat to the public.

Four dead in apparent murder-suicide in Joliet, Ill.
WLS

The victims were identified as Brandyn Lee, 34; Jacquelon Gaskin, 28; Gianna Lee, 6; and Giovanni Lee, 1, said the Will County Coroner’s Office.

Relatives of the victims told ABC Chicago station WLS that Gianna and Giovanni were the children of Lee and Gaskin, who were a couple.

Four dead in apparent murder-suicide in Joliet, Ill.
WLS
Four dead in apparent murder-suicide in Joliet, Ill.
WLS

It was not immediately clear who carried out the killings. The coroner's office said it will determine the cause and manner of death.

What happened at the home, about 40 miles outside of Chicago, is still under police investigation.

The Joliet Police Department added that it "encourages anyone who is feeling suicidal or knows of someone who is suicidal, to seek help by either calling 911 or seek help with a licensed professional."