Family of 5 found dead in murder-suicide in Lake Station, Indiana
A family of five was found shot to death Friday afternoon in a murder-suicide at a mobile home park in Lake Station, Indiana.
Police said around 2:45 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 6700 block of 9th Avenue for a welfare check.
When they arrived, officers obtained a search warrant for the home, and once inside, they found five people dead.
The Lake County Coroner's Office identified the victims as 27-year-old Briana Payne; and her three girls, 4-year-old Alayna, 6-year-old Ava, and 7-year-old Aurorah. They all died from gunshot wounds and their deaths were ruled homicides. The girls' father, 31-year-old Robert Payne, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Neighbors said they were shocked to learn the entire family is now gone.
Sandy Goodman said she's lived next to door to the family for the last five years
"They were arguing a lot for the last few days," she said. "I knew there was something weird, because the cars weren't moved, and they go out every day."
Goodman said she could barely sleep Friday night thinking about how terrified the little girls must have been in their final moments.
"Those little girls were just so full of joy and happiness, and playing. They were just awesome," she said.
Neighbors said Ava and Aurorah were in first and second grade and attended Virgil Bailey Elementary School. The school plans to have grief counselors available on Monday.
