A New Hampshire mother killed her husband and two of her children earlier this week before turning the gun she used on herself.
Authorites said a toddler was not physically harmed and is now with family, WMUR reported.
Authorities reported that Emily Long, aged 34; Ryan Long, aged 48; their 8-year-old son Parker; and 6-year-old daughter Ryan were discovered deceased on Monday evening in their Madbury residence.
“Gunfire erupted and these incidents took place within a short span around 5:30 in the morning. It wasn’t until 8:20 p.m. that individuals attempted to reach out and ultimately dialed 911,” stated Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati.
Autopsy findings indicated the children died from gunshot wounds to their heads. Ryan Long endured several gunshot injuries, while Emily Long suffered a single gunshot to the head. The medical examiner classified the deaths of both children and the father as homicides, while the mother’s was deemed a suicide. All were declared dead at the scene.
Agati cautioned against speculating on a single cause for the incident.
“There were aspects involving financial and health situations, but speculating on a singular reason for this tragedy is misplaced,” Agati explained. “Events like homicide and suicide are generally far more complex than any single cause.”
Reported by Foster’s Daily Democrat, Emily Long had been open about her family’s challenges through a series of TikTok posts starting in April, where she talked about Ryan Long’s battle with glioblastoma, a severe form of brain cancer. In her videos, she expressed feeling overwhelmed by the circumstances following the diagnosis and fearing the prospect of becoming a single parent. She admitted her struggles and expressed hope to seek help before it was “too late.”
Agati emphasized those in crisis can reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in New Hampshire by calling, texting, or chatting at 988, or by texting the Crisis Text Line with the word TALK to 741741.
