UNION, N.J. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A New Jersey mother shot and killed her husband and their two young daughters at the family's home Wednesday morning before killing herself in a murder-suicide, the Union County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
The four family members were found dead at 1329 Lincrest Terrace in Union around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday by members of the Union County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators now believe Andrea Alarcon, 42, fatally shot her husband, Ruben Alarcon, 51, as well as the couple's two girls, before she turned the gun on herself.
The firearm was found near her body when sheriff's officers arrived, prosecutors said.
In a statement, Union County prosecutor William Daniel said, "In tragedies of this magnitude, there are no words that can heal, nor explanations that can serve to make sense of them to the public. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of these victims and to the Union community as a whole in the wake of this horrible event."
Union police director Christopher Donnelly called the killings a "deeply tragic event that has shaken our community to its core."
"We understand that this may be a difficult time for many people, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help. Resources are available, and you don’t have to go through this alone," Donnelly said.
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.