In a tragic incident, a Rhode Island man is believed to have killed his pregnant wife and their two young children before taking his own life. The man, identified as Nicholas Arruda, reportedly used a military-grade assault rifle to carry out the killings, shooting each family member multiple times in their home.
The victims were identified as 39-year-old Danielle Arruda, who was seven months pregnant, and their two children, Adel, 5, and Felex, 2. The West Greenwich Police Chief, Richard Ramsay, described the scene as one of the worst he had ever encountered.
The police were alerted to the situation when Danielle’s coworkers reported her absence from work for two consecutive days. According to Ramsay, her colleagues were concerned as Danielle was known for her punctuality and dedication to her job.
Upon arriving at the Arruda residence for a wellness check, the police were unable to get a response from inside the house. They were forced to break in, only to discover the horrifying scene. Ramsay noted that the door was not only locked but also had a safety chain latched from the inside, indicating that no one had left the house.
Nicholas Arruda, also 39, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The police believe the incident occurred between the evening of New Year’s Day and the early morning of January 2, although the exact timing remains unclear. The motive behind the tragic incident is yet to be determined.
Nicholas Arruda had a previous arrest record for felony assault on a woman from a previous relationship in 2014, as per records viewed by the Boston Globe. The firearm used in the killings was legally owned by him, the police confirmed.
Jesse Arruda, Nicholas’s brother, expressed his shock and grief over the incident. He condemned his brother’s actions, describing them as the “most cowardly, despicable act one could perpetrate.”