LORAIN, Ohio (WJW) — A preliminary investigation into the deaths of four people at a Lorain home, which were discovered Sunday, suggests it was a murder-suicide committed by a 29-year-old man who was previously investigated on a charge of domestic violence.
Police responded to the East 9th Street home at about 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, after receiving reports of loose dogs in the area. There, they found an unsecured door to the home’s upstairs unit and, inside, two young children and two adults dead of gunshot wounds.
Watch previous FOX 8 News coverage in the player below:
Tyler Young, 29, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Next to him, they found a 9-millimeter firearm they believe was used.
Police believe Young also killed his wife, Skylar Young, 24, and her children, 4-month old Bandin Young and 9-year-old Angel Isaac, Lorain police Lt. Jacob Morris told reporters Monday.
Skylar was the biological mother to both children, Morris said. Tyler was the biological father to 4-month-old Bandin, but was not the biological father to Isaac, who was a student at a Horizon Science Academy in Lorain, according to police.
The school issued a statement to FOX 8 Monday regarding the 9-year-old:
Our hearts are broken for Angel and her family and friends during this sorrowful time and our entire school community is mourning the loss of this bright and vibrant young soul.
Angel was not just a student; she was a cherished member of our school family. Her warmth, kindness, and positive spirit impacted students and staff alike.
During this challenging time, our primary focus is on providing support to our students and staff who are grieving. Counselors and support staff are available to help students process their emotions, and additional resources will be made available as needed.
We understand that this news may be difficult to process, and we encourage parents and caregivers to have open conversations with their children and to contact us at Horizon Science Academy of Lorain for assistance.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Angel’s family during this unimaginably difficult time.
Horizon Science Academy
Morris said the investigation is not yet complete, but preliminary details suggest Tyler killed the three then himself.
Police believe the killings happened between 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday. There were no reports of gunshots in the area, Morris said. Police recovered two other firearms from the residence.
Tyler Young was previously arrested on domestic violence and strangulation charges in May. Police made contact with Skylar near the home in that incident, and she alleged Tyler threatened and “slapped and choked” her, while she was 26 weeks pregnant with Bandin, Morris said.
However, Skylar the following month recanted the statement she gave to police, claiming she may have had a flashback to a prior incident, Morris said.
A family member at the time told police that Tyler was having a schizophrenic episode in the May incident, according to a police report, though Morris said it’s unclear whether Tyler had been officially diagnosed with a mental illness.
That case was presented to a Lorain County grand jury, which ultimately chose not to indict.
