A 42-year-old man allegedly threw his two young children from a parking garage before jumping to his death in a suspected murder-suicide in Pennsylvania, police said. The victims were identified as Patrick Lynch, 42, and his children, James Lynch, 8, and Caroline Lynch, 6. Their bodies were found near a parking garage in Mt Lebanon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, on Tuesday afternoon (November 3).According to preliminary findings cited in reports, Lynch allegedly pushed his two children from the upper level of the parking structure before jumping himself. All three suffered injuries consistent with a fall.Police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the 700 block of Washington Road, near the Mt. Lebanon municipal building, at around 4:15 pm. First responders attempted to revive the three victims, but all were pronounced dead at the scene.Mt Lebanon Police chief Jason Haberman said investigators were treating the incident as a criminal investigation and not an accident.“At this time we are treating this incident not as an accident,” Haberman said during a news conference.The Allegheny County Police Department and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with the investigation. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive.
Two elementary schools closed
The deaths prompted the Mt. Lebanon School District to close Markham Elementary and Washington Elementary schools on Wednesday (November 4).In a statement, the district said it was deeply saddened by the deaths involving members of its school community. It also announced that students attending other schools could stay home, with their absences being treated as excused.Counsellors were made available to support students, teachers and families affected by the tragedy.Haberman said the incident had deeply affected the close-knit community.“Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community will know somebody involved in this incident,” he said, expressing condolences to the victims’ family and friends.Police said there was no active threat to the public. The investigation is ongoing.
