A Pennsylvania man killed his wife before fatally shooting himself – only three days after the couple had celebrated their daughter’s fifth birthday, police say.
Matthew Eberhardt, 45, fatally shot his wife Kristin, 42, on the doorstep of their Northampton, Pennsylvania home on Tuesday night, the Morning Call reports.
He then killed himself, police said.
Matthew Eberhardt, 45, fatally shot his wife Kristin, 42, before killing himself in a shocking murder-suicide that has rocked a suburban Pennsylvania community. They are survived by their one-year-old son and their five-year-old daughter. All four are pictured in a family photo this past holiday season
The incident occurred on Tuesday night, only days after the couple had thrown their five-year-old daughter a birthday party. Pictured is a scene from the site of the crime
The couple had lived in the home together for eight years and also had a one-year-old son, who survives them.
Both children have been placed in the care of relatives, police said.
WFMZ reports that both children were inside the home during the shootings.
Neighbors described a happy and sociable family that had just thrown their daughter a birthday party over the weekend and were shocked by the murder-suicide.
One neighbor told the Morning Call that Matthew was ‘a super-nice, down-to-earth guy’ and described Kristin as ‘very nice’.
And the last public Facebook photo posted by Kristin on December 21 shows the family in front of their Christmas tree.
A neighbor said that Matthew was ‘a super-nice, down-to-earth guy’ and described Kristin as ‘very nice’. Pictured is another scene from the crime
Their front lawn was also plastered with Christmas decorations such as inflatable reindeer, which remained standing as of the morning after the shocking deaths.
Police have not commented to media on any potential motive.
Court documents indicate the family was not experiencing any financial hardship.
Pictured is a general view of the couple’s home in Northampton, Pennsylvania. Both of their children have been placed in the care of relatives, police say