Four people were found dead inside their home in West Des Moines, Iowa, police said on June 15. All four had apparent gunshot wounds.
Chandrasekhar Sunkara, 44; Lavanya Sunkara, 41; and two boys, ages 15 and 10 were pronounced dead at the scene, the city of West Des Moines said in a news release. They were found Saturday morning, according to CNN affiliate KCCI.
Four other family members, two of whom are children, were staying in the home as guests, police said. When the victims were found, one of those guests ran outside to look for help, found someone walking by and had that person call 911.
Police identified apparent gunshot wounds to each of the victims, but autopsies will be performed to determine the cause of each of their deaths, the release said. A police spokesman said there does not appear to be a threat to others in the community.
“This tragedy will impact family, friends, co-workers, anyone that knew this family,” said Sgt. Dan Wade with the West Des Moines Police Department. “We are continuing to work through this investigation. We will follow through until we have answered as many questions as the evidence allows.”
16-Year-Old Shot in Front of Father While Selling Xbox
In another shooting incident this week, Indiana Police are searching for two suspects who were involved in the killing of a 16-year-old who tried to sell his Xbox under the supervision of his father.
Gary Police Commander Jack Hamady said the suspects were two black men aged between late teens to early 20s, and were last seen wearing black hoodies and basketball shorts.
The Lake County coroner’s office identified the teen victim as Johnny Peluyera, who tried to sell his Xbox to people he met on the internet, nwi.com reported.
The transaction took place on June 13 at 5000 block of Maryland Street, Merrillville, Indiana, Hamady said.
Investigators are looking for surveillance footage that may give them more clues.
Hamady believes that the suspects aren’t from out of town.
“The two suspects had to be from the neighborhood,” he said. “They lured [Peluyera] into the area. Someone has to know these guys.”
“In the case of the last teen who was shot, an anonymous tip helped us find the suspect. We are hoping someone will come forward with information this time, too.”
Around 6 p.m. local time, the buyers wanted to test the console using the power outlets on the outside of two homes when a silver handgun was drawn.
Peluyera’s father told his son to run back to the vehicle. The son ran back to the car while carrying his Xbox, but got shot in the back before he could make it into the car.
After the 16-year-old was shot, he climbed into the car and his father drove to an intersection and called emergency services.
When they arrived, the teen was lying in the car unconscious with no sign of life, Hamady said.
The Lake County coroner pronounced Peluyera dead 47 minutes after the shooting.
Hamady issued a warning to those who meet face-to-face with people they find online.
“The Gary Police Department does not encourage buyers and sellers of these online apps meeting at unknown locations,” Hamady said in a news release issued Thursday. “If you are going to make a transaction with an individual online, you should choose a police station parking lot or a public place.”
NTD reporter Alan Cheung and The CNN Wire contributed to this report.
