A DAD allegedly shot his ex-wife and two young sons in an apparent murder-suicide over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to cops.
David Schladetzky, 53, reportedly gunned down William, 11, and Nelson, eight, before a police stand-off ensued inside the family home.
Dad and ex-husband David Schladetzky allegedly gunned down his familyPolice and SWAT teams surrounded the house in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a bid to negotiate with the dad over several hours.
Later a bomb squad robot with a camera revealed the dead bodies of Schladetzky and his ex-wife Kjersten, 39, were inside.
Neighbor Erik Wiltscheck initially thought the dad was playing outside with his two sons when the alleged attacks began on Sunday.
He told CBS Minnesota: “I actually thought it was a game at first, like the dad was kind of fake shooting them.
“But then all of sudden a loud ‘boom, boom, boom,’ and the kids are trying to get up.”
This is something that will live with them forever.
Minneapolis Police spokesperson John Elder
He was one of several people to call 911 after the initial gunshots.
At the scene police found the two boys lying on the front yard, they had suffered bullet wounds and did not survive their injuries.
Police Chief Medaria Arradondo described the heroic actions of his officers who raced over in an attempt to save the children.
He said that they put their lives on the line to retrieve them from outside the home, near to the shooter.
After they were scooped up and taken into squad cars the kids were pronounced dead.
“This is something that will live with them forever,” police spokesperson John Elder said.
POLICE STANDOFF
Police set-up a perimeter and evacuated nearby homes after the gunfire was reported.
There authorities allegedly tried to make contact with Schladetzky for multiple hours.
Inside the home, police would later find two dead bodies, including the dad who was allegedly found next to a handgun.
It’s claimed that he was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, The Heavy reported.
Kjerstern was discovered in the entryway. No other victims were found inside the house.
They’re so full of life, and to see lifeless bodies was just really, you just can’t imagine how horrible that really is.
Neighbor Erik Wiltscheck
The couple had filed for a divorce in November last year and had finalized the settlement this summer, according to the Star Tribune.
Neighbor Erik explained that he would help out the single mom and shovelled her sidewalk on Sunday morning.
As for her children, he remembered them being “full of life” and “just dynamite kids”.
Erik added: “They’re so full of life, and to see lifeless bodies was just really, you just can’t imagine how horrible that really is.
“I just started tearing up and crying. It’s kids.
“If I had the chance, I would have traded my life for those kids. I just can’t make sense of this.”
FUNNY, INTELLIGENT & GRACIOUS
Kjersten worked for the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
She was described as intelligent, funny and gracious, by former-colleague Anna Pratt, who had previously worked with her at the Hennepi Theatre Trust.
Anna claimed it was there that Kjersten met David.
Police Chief Arradondo said: “My heart and the hearts of the Minneapolis Police Department goes out to our victims and our victims family members.
“Anytime we lose our community members, in particular our children to such violence, it makes us all feel very horrible.
“And today’s a very sad day for our city.”
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He explained that special trauma care specials would visit neighbors to help them if needed.
The schools that the boys attended were also informed about the tragedy.
