A DAD threw his two young children off to their deaths from a multi-storey car park before jumping in a suspected murder-suicide.
Patrick Lynch, 42, his son James, 8, and daughter Caroline, 6, were found dead at the foot of the parking garage in an affluent Pittsburgh suburb.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted to save their lives but all three were pronounced dead after suffering injuries in an “apparent fall”.
Mount Lebanon Police said: “Preliminary information suggests that this incident is a murder-suicide.”
Lynch’s motive was not immediately clear, but local Police Chief James Haberman struggled to hide his emotions as he said it was not being investigated as an accident.
He continued: “There will be a significant amount of trauma associated with this event for the community,” referring to the wealthy area around five miles south of downtown Pittsburgh.
“Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community will know somebody involved in this incident,” he added.
“We really want to send our condolences.”
Police tape was seen sealing off a black vehicle at the garage.
The Mt. Lebanon School District said two of its elementary schools will be closed on Wednesday.
Students at other schools in the area were permitted to stay home and have their absences excused.
School therapists will also be made available, the district said.
It comes after a pregnant woman and several children were among nine people killed in a suspected murder-suicide.
Matthew Stone Sr., 45, is believed to have opened fire at a family home in Erie, Pennsylvania before taking his own life.
Cops discovered multiple dead bodies throughout the house in a crime scene which one police chief described as “deeply disturbing”.
A five-year-old boy, one-year-old girl and seven adult victims were also found at the property.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said: “I wanna be candid with our community, this is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes that our officers and investigators have ever encountered.
“The loss of life is devastating and the circumstances that we are working through are deeply disturbing.”
A memorial was held for the victims in the town, which is about 120 miles north of Pittsburgh.
