A quiet morning in Hopkins turned into a scene of unimaginable horror on Wednesday when police discovered three members of the same family dead at an in-home daycare center. According to Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson, officers responded to a report of a stabbing on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North shortly after 9 a.m., called in by a parent who had just dropped off their child. Inside the residence, authorities found a 41-year-old woman and a seven-year-old girl dead from apparent stab wounds, alongside a 41-year-old man who died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While the carnage was devastating, police confirmed that six very young children were found safely inside the facility. None of the children were physically harmed, and they have since been reunited with their families. Preliminary evidence suggests that the adults involved owned the daycare and that the father acted as the perpetrator in a suspected murder-suicide. The local community has been left reeling, with neighbors describing the couple as friendly and welcoming. Mayor Patrick Hanlon emphasized that Hopkins is a tight-knit town where everyone knows one another, noting that the city has shed many tears over such an immense loss.
The tragedy extends beyond Hopkins, as investigators have linked this event to a separate homicide in Burnsville. In that incident, a 78-year-old woman was killed, and police believe she was a close relative of the suspect from the daycare shooting. Neighbors in Burnsville recalled seeing the man and woman taking walks together frequently before the violent turn of events. Though state records showed that Brown Bear Childcare held an active license with no prior violations, officials are still working to piece together the timeline and motive behind these connected killings.
As the investigation continues, local leaders including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have offered their support to those grieving in Hopkins. While police assure the public that there is no longer an ongoing threat to the community, they acknowledge the deep psychological trauma inflicted on parents who trusted their children’s safety to this home. Other local childcare providers have already begun stepping up to offer emergency services for the displaced families starting Thursday morning.
