WEST BEND, WI — West Bend police are investigating after four people, including two children, were found dead inside a home on Saturday, along with a dead dog. Officers were called to the residence near North and East Washington streets shortly before noon after dispatchers received a report of multiple dead people inside.
When police arrived, they found the bodies of an adult woman, an adult man, a boy and a girl. Another girl who had been inside the home was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and was said to be in stable condition. Police also said a firearm believed to have been involved was recovered at the scene.
Police say everyone inside the home was connected to one another
Investigators have not released the names of the people who died, but they have said the victims were all connected to each other. Police also believe the suspect was inside the home with the people who were found dead.
That detail has led investigators to focus on what happened within the house itself rather than looking for an unknown shooter outside the scene. Authorities have not publicly described the relationships among the victims or said exactly how the family members were tied together.
The presence of a surviving child adds another layer to the investigation, though police have not said what treatment the girl received or whether she was hurt in the incident. Officials are continuing to piece together the sequence of events that led to the deaths.
Neighbors say the quiet street turned into a crime scene in minutes
People who live nearby said the police response quickly shut down the area and left neighbors trying to understand what had happened. One resident, Danairis Melendez, said she left to drop her children off at a basketball game and returned to find the street blocked off.
Melendez also described the victims as familiar faces in the neighborhood and said the children had often played with her own kids. She said her thoughts were with the family and described the mother and children as loving and kind.
The sudden police presence and hours-long blockade underscored how quickly the situation escalated from an emergency call to a homicide investigation. For neighbors, the scene appeared to unfold with little warning on a Saturday morning.
Investigators have not said what led to the shooting
West Bend police have not released a motive, and they have not said what may have prompted the violence. They also have not disclosed who owned the firearm recovered in the home or whether the weapon has already been linked to any of the deaths.
The department said officers remained at the house for hours as the investigation continued. That kind of on-scene work often includes collecting evidence, documenting the layout of the home and speaking with anyone who may have relevant information.
For now, police are treating the case as an active investigation and have not announced any arrests or additional suspects. The key facts released so far point to a violent incident inside a single home, but many details remain undisclosed.
Police are asking the public for information as resources are offered to families
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact the West Bend Police Department at 262-335-5000. Authorities have not said whether they are seeking specific witnesses or tips about the hours before the call came in.
TMJ4 also noted domestic violence resources for people who may need help. Friends Inc. can be reached at 262-334-5598 for those experiencing domestic violence or seeking support for someone else.
The tragedy has drawn concern from neighbors and left a small community trying to absorb the loss of multiple family members at once. Police have not said when more information will be released, but the investigation is continuing.
