Duluth Police are saying the suspect in Thursday's murder-suicide gunned down his two young sons and their mothers before taking his own life.
The bodies of 47-year old Erin Abramson and 15-year old Jacob Nephew, as well as 45-year old Kathryn Nephew-Ramsland and 7-year-old Oliver Nephew, all from Duluth, were found at two separate residences a mile from each other.
"This is not something that happens often in our community, and it's been a couple of years since we've seen something like this," said Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert. "And we're going to grieve, but we're also going to make sure that we support those families and support our public safety team."
46-year old Anthony Nephew has been identified as the suspect. He was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa says officers were initially called to do a welfare check when they made the discovery.
"The welfare check was initiated because of an employee with the City of Superior who was concerned about another employee who had not shown up for work, and that was outside of their character," Ceynowa says.
Erin Abramson worked for the City of Superior and was remembered by the mayor.
"Aaron Abramson was one of yesterday's victims," says Superior, Wisconsin neighbor Jim Paine. "She was a leader in our environmental services division, which I often lightheartedly describe as one of the most important departments in the City of Superior. She dedicated her life and her work to protecting public health, and Superior, and the north woods of Wisconsin."
Police continue to investigate what happened.