Florida Double Murder-Suicide: Man Kills 2 Children And Himself Allegedly Following Domestic Violence

In a case of double murder-suicide, a man killed two children and himself at a home in Dunkirk Road, Florida, on Friday morning.

According to local reports, a woman, an acquaintance, rushed to the home to check on the man after receiving a suicidal message from him. Upon arrival, the woman found the home on fire. She immediately alerted the police.

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Michael Terry said a deputy soon arrived at the scene and managed to enter the home. However, he had to rush out of the residence because of the smoke. The Hernando County Fire Rescue arrived at the scene and contained the fire following which the bodies of an adult, a young teenager and a pre-teen were located inside the residence. A fire rescue division chief said that the fire was burning only in one of the bedrooms.

Speaking to the media Friday, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said the incident had “some domestic violence-type overtones.” Police were called to the home last month regarding a verbal disturbance, the details of which were not provided.

On Saturday, police confirmed that the man, identified as 43-year-old Derick Albert Vasquez, killed the two children before killing himself. The manner of death was not known. Information regarding the relationship between Vasquez and the children were not released.

Meanwhile, MacAlpine, a neighbor, said the family had moved in a few months ago and that she didn’t know them well. She added that the family had been having loud arguments off late. Investigation into the case was ongoing.

The incident comes a month after a man killed his girlfriend and her partner in Loughman, Florida. Police responded to a home after receiving reports that the house was on fire. The officers entered the house and found the bodies of a man and a woman. Investigation revealed that the crime was committed by Kenyatta Bellamy, the woman’s boyfriend who had recently bonded out of jail and seen her with another man. He was taken into custody and charged with murder and arson.