An upstate New York teen was allegedly murdered by her father before he fatally shot himself, Syracuse.com reports.
Authorities in the village of Baldwinsville made the tragic discovery on Friday morning after the girl’s mother contacted police around 8:31 a.m. to report that her daughter had not left for school and there was no answer at the door.
Police conducted a welfare check and located the body of 14-year-old Ava Wood, who was in a bed and appeared to have a gunshot wound to the head.
Officers found her father, 51-year-old Christopher Wood, in a different room with a gunshot wound to his head. Investigators found a shotgun and believe that the father’s wounds were self-inflicted.
On Thursday evening, Christopher Wood allegedly spoke to the girl’s mother – his estranged wife – and told her “This is how it ends for us,” according to the news outlet.
Christopher had allegedly sent text messages to the woman in a harassing way days earlier, and there had been an unspecified stalking incident last year.
On Friday, Durgee Junior High School sent an email to families about Ava’s death. The teen had been in ninth grade at the school, where she played soccer in addition to track and field.
“It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I inform you of the tragic loss of Durgee Jr. High School 9th grade student Ava Wood,” the email said, according to Syracuse.com.
“We are a close-knit school community and our hearts are broken by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Ava’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time.”
The Baldwinsville Central School District is providing counseling to students and canceled after-school activities on Friday.
In a statement, acting Superintendent Joseph M. DeBarbieri said students are encouraged to talk about what happened.
“It’s important to allow children to talk about their grief experiences and what they need during this tragic time,” DeBarbieri said in a written statement, according to WSYR-TV.
“Counselors urge you to listen to your child’s concerns and questions. After communicating this difficult news to your child, if you feel that they need additional support, our counselors will be available to provide you with resources and strategies.”
Law enforcement who worked the scene also need support, Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck said, describing the challenge of dealing with a murder-suicide involving a parent and child.
“It’s difficult, to say the least,” Lefancheck said at a news conference, according to WSTM-TV.
“It’s not an easy scene for either of us to witness. Both the sheriff and I have been in law enforcement for a long time and to have to walk through a scene like that is not an easy thing to do.”
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[Featured image: Ava Wood/Baldwinsville Central School District]
