CINCINNATI (AP) — Three women and a man found dead in their home in a suburban Ohio community died of gunshot wounds, a coroner ruled Tuesday.
Police authorities search a nearby pond at a scene at an apartment complex Monday, April 29, 2019, in West Chester, Ohio. Several people were found dead at the apartment complex where multiple gunshots were fired, police said Monday. No suspect has been identified. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Butler County’s Dr. Lisa Mannix said all four deaths were homicides. Meanwhile, Tuesday, police were continuing to search for clues and hadn’t identified any suspects.
Members of a nearby Sikh faith temple said the four family members had worshipped there, and the Indian consulate in New York said it was in close communication with police.
West Chester Township spokeswoman Barb Wilson said in a statement Tuesday that while “many questions have been raised about Sunday’s homicides and a connection to the victims’ faith/nationality,” ”there is no reason to believe that this is a hate crime.”
The consulate’s statement also said the slayings weren’t believed to be a hate crime. The consulate said it was in touch with family members and the community, “closely following up (and) extending all help.”
The coroner listed the victims as: Shalinderjit Kaur, 39; Amarjit Kaur, 58; Parmjit Kaur, 62, and Hakiakat Singh Pannag, 59. Their relationships weren’t specified.
As part of a property-wide search, divers returned Tuesday to a pond near the home in an apartment complex. Wilson said no new information was available on the search.
A man who called 911 late Sunday said he found the four “on the ground and bleeding.” Police Chief Joel Herzog said police had interviewed the caller, but he wasn’t in custody. Herzog also said Monday that there apparently were other people who lived at the residence, including children who weren’t there at the time and are currently staying with relatives.
According to a police report, the discovery of the victims was reported by Gurpreet Singh, 36, a resident of the apartment.
Such violent crime is rare in the township of some 62,000 people roughly 20 miles (323 kilometers) north of Cincinnati.
Herzog reassured residents Monday that he didn’t think there was a threat to the community and that the killings appear “isolated.”
Police continue probe into 4 family members slain in home
May 01, 2019 12:36PM
WEST CHESTER, Ohio (AP) — Authorities continue to investigate the Sunday evening deaths of four family members found shot in their suburban Ohio home.
West Chester Township spokeswoman Barb Wilson says Wednesday the investigation is ongoing. Police have not publicly identified any suspects.
A coroner identified the man and three women killed and said all four died from gunshot wounds. She did not specify their relationship or release other details Tuesday on the autopsy results.
Authorities say they don’t believe the slayings were a hate crime.
A man identified as a resident of the apartment called 911 late Sunday, saying he arrived home to find four family members down and bleeding.
Members of a nearby Sikh temple said Monday they believed the victims were members of a family that had worshipped there.