Prosecutors: Linden father kills wife, 2 children in apparent murder-suicide

LINDEN, N.J. -- There is new information about an unspeakable tragedy in New Jersey.

Police say a man fatally shot his wife and two children before taking his own life.

CBS2 has learned the victims' identities.

A memorial for the family of four is growing on their front lawn. Students and teachers from the children's middle school came by to pay their respects.

Pictures of 13-year-old Natalie Nieroda and 14-year-old Sebastian Nieroda are how their classmates in the seventh and eighth grades want to remember them.

"It's sad how she's gone now, but if I could hug her, say hi to her one more day, I'd definitely do that," friend Stefany Ruvinho said.

Friends of Sebastian Nieroda rode their bikes to the Chatham Place home in honor of the group rides they did together. They said he loved video games and soccer.

"Wonderful kids. Whole family was really nice," neighbor Roman Zygadlo said.

The Union County prosecutor says their dad, 41-year-old Krzysztof Nieroda, fatally shot his wife, 41-year-old Justyna, and the two kids.

The prosecutor said the father called a family member, divulged what he had done, and then shot himself in the head.

When authorities arrived around 9:30 a.m., police say the father was found dead with the weapon in his hand. Also pronounced deceased were his wife and daughter.

Sebastian Nieroda was found alive in critical condition, but later died at a hospital.

One neighbor said he spoke with the father the other day about an upcoming surgery and home renovations.

"Like always, relaxed, laid back," Anthony Bayete said.

"He was an electrician," Leszek Daszykowski added. "According to friends, his business was going very well."

Friends say the wife was a hair stylist who worked out of the home.

"I used to come to her house, she did my hair and the kids were laughing," Danuta Daszykowski said.

"They like to go camping, quad and skiing, you know," Leslie Daszykowski said.

"We're very upset here in town. It's very gut wrenching," Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said.

"She was kind hearted and she understood everybody. She was like, she was a good person. I don't know why anybody would do this to her," Ruvinho said of Natalia Nieroda.

The mayor said extra grief counselors will be on hand at the middle school on Tuesday to help classmates as they try to process this tragedy.