WASHINGTON — Five family members have been found dead in what authorities are describing as a murder-suicide just outside of Culpeper, Virginia.
The mother of Shauna Washington was worried about her daughter’s welfare and went to the home Sunday, discovering the bodies of Shauna Washington, 35, and Clarence Washington, 35, along with their daughters.
Omesha Washington was 13. Onya Washington was 6. Olivia Washington was 4.
“Our investigation up to this point would lead us to believe that the crime was committed by one of the adults. Right now that focus is on Mr. Washington,” says Culpeper Sheriff Scott H. Jenkins.
Around 10 p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to a home in the 14000 block of Rixeyville Road. The three-bedroom house sits on about an acre of land just outside the town limits of Culpeper, according to Culpeper County property records.
All five family suffered gunshot wounds, the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office says.
“This is definitely a shock to the community, for sure,” Culpeper Mayor Michael Olinger said. “Very seldom do we have a murder in Culpeper or any kind of activity such as this.” He said he did not know the victims.
Culpeper is a town of about 15,000 people 70 miles southwest of Washington.
The Virginia State Police are assisting the sheriff’s office with the investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on WTOP Facebook page.
