A 39-year-old man, Nicholas Arruda, from Rhode Island fatally shot his seven-month pregnant wife and two children before committing himself, as reported by authorities.
Authorities found the deaths of Nicholas D. Arruda, 39, Danielle L. Arruda, 39, and their children, Adele, 5, and Felex, 2, at their residence in West Greenwich on Friday, January 3, as stated by the West Greenwich police.
At a news conference on Wednesday, January 8, West Greenwich Police Chief Richard N. Ramsay informed reporters that Nicholas Arruda fatally shot his family before taking his own life, as stated by the West Greenwich police.
“I hope there can be an elucidation to assist you in comprehending this atrocious act,” Ramsay informed reporters. “However, the reality is that we may never ascertain the reason for its occurrence.”
The incident transpired between 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day and 5:20 a.m. on January 2 within the family’s residence on Cheyenne Trail.
The remains of the family were found on January 3, after authorities conducted a wellness check on Danielle, who failed to report to work on Thursday and did not make contact on Friday.
Ramsay stated that there were “suspicious circumstances at the residence and that entry into the house had to be forcibly gained,” according to the Boston Globe.
Officers saw a horrific sight, which Ramsay defined as “one of the worst” he has witnessed in his over 30-year career.
“Upon entering the residence, officers promptly observed the remains of two young children, an adult male, and a pregnant female,” stated Ramsay. “It was evident that none of the bodies exhibited signs of life and that all four had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.”
Ramsay further observed that detectives found no indications of a struggle among the victims and that Nicholas Arruda succumbed to a self-inflicted single gunshot wound, with an M4-type semiautomatic weapon positioned beside his body.
Ramsay stated that the West Greenwich police had not received any prior indications of issues at the Arruda family property before the incident occurred.
Ramsay stated, “They cohabited, and all evidence from family and friends suggested that they cherished one another and their children.”
“This was unexpected,” stated Mikayla Ruffner Cihat, Danielle’s 26-year-old cousin, to The Providence Journal. Cihat informed the magazine that she recently celebrated Christmas with Danielle and her family.
Cihat organised a GoFundMe campaign to aid with memorial services and provide support for the family.
Cihat described his cousin Danielle as lovely, intelligent, compassionate, and exceptionally humorous on the GoFundMe website. “She illuminated any space she entered and consistently possessed the most captivating anecdotes and effective solutions for those who approached her with a dilemma.”
The campaign aims to raise $25,000 and has already secured over $20,000.
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