A Minnesota man killed his wife and their 7-year-old daughter at the home daycare they owned in Hopkins before taking his own life, authorities said Wednesday. Police also believe the 41-year-old suspect fatally stabbed a 78-year-old relative at her home prior to the daycare incident.
All six other children present at Brown Bear Childcare were physically unharmed. A parent who was dropping off a child witnessed part of the attack in the home's basement and called police, according to Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson.
Authorities responded to a second home in Burnsville, about 20 miles from Hopkins, more than three hours after the daycare killings. There, they found a woman who had been fatally stabbed. Investigators believe the two incidents are connected, and that the man had been living at the home of the "close family relative."
No names have been released. Police stated that a clear motive has not yet been determined and there is no record of prior police calls to the Hopkins address. Authorities indicated it will take time to establish the timeline of the killings in both locations.
Neighbors described the daycare, located in a two-story house with a mural on the garage door, as a quiet home. Records show Brown Bear Childcare had been licensed by the state since 2019 and was found to be in compliance during recent state visits. Police officials described the scene as deeply disturbing for responding officers.