Authorities said Monday that the family of four found dead from gunshot wounds at their home in Iowa were victims of a murder-suicide, reports NBC News.
The victims have been identified as Chandrasekhar Sunkara, 44, and Lavanya Sunkara, 41, along with their two sons, a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old.
Police have previously said they were confident there was no threat to the community, but they didn’t explain why.
Yesterday, authorities revealed that autopsies indicated the boys and their mother were homicide victims and Chandrasekhar Sunkara died by suicide. No further details were provided.
The Des Moines Register reported that other family members, two adult relatives and two children, were staying with the Sunkaras as guests. One of the survivors ran outside after discovering the bodies to seek help. A neighbor called 911.
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The boys were “really bright children, really heads down,” said Shrikar Somayajula, a co-owner of and partner in A Grade Ahead, an after school educational program attended by the boys. “The family was a very friendly family, so it’s really painful.”
Somayajula added that the star students represented the school in national scholastic competitions and “wanted to go to one of the elite Ivy League colleges.”
Chandrasekhar Sunkara worked in IT for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, according to KCCI.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Sunkaras,” said the DPS in a statement.
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