Police: Fremont mother fatally stabbed 1-year-old son, 4-year-old daughter before killing self
FREMONT -- A mother stabbed her one-year-old son and four-year-old daughter to death before taking her own life in a tragedy that unfolded inside a Fremont home, investigators announced on Tuesday.
The tragic event took place on Monday shortly after 1:00 p.m., when officers and firefighters responded to the 40000 block of Inglewood Common to investigate the death of three people.
Upon arrival, officers discovered two young children and their adult mother deceased in their apartment.
"The initial investigation leads detectives to believe this event was a murder-suicide and not committed at the hands of another," investigators said in a press release.
A knife was located at the scene and whether or not it's the murder weapon will be determined by forensic testing.
"Our department offers our sincerest condolences for the family and friends impacted by this tragedy," said Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington in a news release. "Loss of life is always difficult, especially when the loss involves children."
Meanwhile, a makeshift memorial continued to grow on the steps of the apartment building.
"This is tragic. This is children, babies," neighbor Allie Carroll told KPIX. "So now we have to mourn the loss of people we don't know and that poor mother who just felt destitute."
While detectives investigated the circumstances, police said there was no known threat to the community.
"I'm sick to my stomach, makes your tummy hurt, little babies," Carroll added. "We need more mental health, we need more mental health in California."
Neighbor Poppy Hedman didn't know the victims. She rode her bike by the complex to bring flowers from her garden.
"I walk my dog past here all the time and I just got home and I saw the news and it just seemed like the right thing to do," she said. "It's just sad."
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