CHESTERFIELD (WWJ) -- One person is dead and four others are in the hospital following what police say was a murder and attempted suicide in Macomb County's Chesterfield Township.
WWJ Newsradio 950 has learned that our own overnight anchor, Jim Matthews was killed in the tragic incident Friday, at the Hidden Harbor Condominiums in the area of Hooker Rd. and Jefferson.
The Chesterfield Public Safety Department said it is investigating what it is calling a "domestic situation" involving a murder and attempted suicide in which Matthews' was killed and his 35-year-old girlfriend and their two children were injured.
The suspect is also being treated as a local hospital.
"This is a tragic situation but there is no threat to the community at this time," police added.
According to Director of Public Safety Brian Bassett, a 911 call came in at around noon on Friday reporting that a 35-year-old woman had escaped from a home on Bayview Dr., along with her 5-year-old daughter.
The woman was suffering from multiple stab wounds in several places on her body, Bassett said, and the little girl was also injured.
Police and EMS arrived quickly and began tending to the two victims, Bassett said. while additional officers went into into the home where they found the 57-year-old man, later identified as Matthews, dead.
Police also found the woman's 10-year-old son tied up in the closet and suffering from blunt force trauma. He was rushed to a hospital where he remains in critical condition.
In the basement of the home police found the suspect, identified as a 54-year-old man, who was suffering from self-inflicted wounds, as well as a drug overdose.
As for what led to the violence, that is not clear at this time. Basset declined to go into details when asked if this was a premeditated attack on the family, or why it's believed the boy had been tied up.
Bassett said the suspect was known to the victims and had been welcomed into the home earlier in the morning. However, he said that police they are still investigating the details of the suspect's relationship to the family.
Bassett also told reporters that it's too early to talk about the weapons that were used. He did, however, say that there was no gun involved.
Police confirmed that Lotti Schmidt Elementary across the street from the murder scene was placed on lockdown as a precaution, but said that students were never in any danger.
The investigation is ongoing.
About Jim Matthews:
Jim worked as the overnight news anchor at WWJ for nearly seven years. He would often speak with his co-workers about his love for his two children, and their adventures at school. He loved delivering the latest news to his listeners, and was incredibly dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. There have been many tears shed in our newsroom today and Jim will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s family and friends during this difficult time.
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