4 dead, including 2 children, in possible murder-suicide in Joliet

JOLIET, Ill. (SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE) - Four people were killed in a murder-suicide, including two children, Wednesday night in the southwest suburbs.

Joliet police said that Brandyn Lee, 34, fatally shot his girlfriend, 28-year-old Jaquelon Gaskin and her kids, Gianna Lee, 6, and Giovanni Lee, 1, before killing himself.

Officers responded to a call of people shot at 10:19 p.m. on the second floor of a house in the 500 block of Whitley Avenue and found their four bodies, each with a single gunshot wound, and a firearm, Joliet police said in a statement.

Police said they had no history of domestic calls from the residence. The investigation, which included evidence from the scene and witness testimony, found that Lee fatally shot all three victims before shooting himself, police said.

“Anytime a person is killed, it’s a heartbreaking situation. But when children are killed, it’s incomprehensible,” Joliet Police Chief Al Roescner said in a statement. “My heart goes out to the family of the victims.”

The Will County coroner’s office confirmed their identities and scheduled autopsies.

Anyone struggling with mental health issues can seek help by calling 911,  the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 or by texting “home” to 741741.