A South Jersey man shot his wife and 10-year-old son to death, then turned the gun on himself, authorities in Burlington Township said Tuesday.
The murder-suicide is the second in which a family has died in the Philadelphia area in a span of three days, after a family of five was found dead in their Berks County home on Saturday.
The Burlington Township murder-suicide was discovered the same way as the one in Berks County: After a call from a concerned relative, police officers went to a home on Sunflower Circle in Burlington Township about 10:15 p.m. Monday, according to the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.
At the home, police found Ruben Johnson Jr., 50, his wife, Mishanda, 48, and their 10-year-old son dead of gunshot wounds. An investigation determined that Ruben Johnson shot his wife and son to death, then fatally shot himself, according to the prosecutor's office.
The murder-suicide came on the heels of that of the Short family in Sinking Spring, Berks County. Investigators have not yet said which adult they believe was responsible for the shooting in that case.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
