Police confirm murder suicide of Peterson family with ME report
Police have confirmed the identities of the four people killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Herndon.
Fairfax County police said a preliminary investigation indicates that Albert Peterson, 57, killed his wife, Kathleen Peterson, 52, and their two children, Matthew, 16, and Christopher, 13, before taking his own life.
The medical examiner’s office said all four family members died of gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Matthew Peterson was a 10th grader at Westfield High School and Christopher Peterson was in 8th grade at Rachel Carson Middle School.
Many of the students wore black today to honor their deaths.
The head of Blackbird Technologies in Herndon, where Kathie Peterson worked in procurement, said in a statement that employees there were “still trying to absorb the shock of this tragedy.”
“[Kathie] will be remembered as a high-energy, devoted parent who always had a smile to share,” CEO Peggy Styer said. “She often told stories about her sons, their sports and community activities. She is already missed.”
Albert Peterson worked for Northtrop Grunman until 2009 when he resigned.
The Petersons’ church, the Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, organized a candlelight vigil for Wednesday night. “Everyone is feeling a great deal of grief over this loss,” Rev. Tom Berlin said, “and is searching for answers that are not known at this time.”
There will be a vigil for the family at Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon.
[…] Deemed a murder suicide, all four family members, Albert, Kathleen and their two sons Matthew and Chris, all had gunshot wounds to the upper body as a cause of death. […]
[…] UPDATE: The police have confirmed the murder suicide with initial medical examiner report, more here […]