POCOMOKE CITY, Md. (AP) — Three people have died in what police are calling a murder suicide in Pocomoke City.
Media outlets report Maryland State Police identified the deceased people Monday as 78-year-old Marvin Purnell Sr., 52-year-old Karen Purnell and 46-year-old Marvin Purnell Jr.
Sgt. DeVaughn Parker of the state police says the bodies were found Monday inside a home where the three lived.
Parker says Worcester County Sheriff's deputies responded to the home for a welfare check. They arrived to find two bodies inside and heard the voice of a man.
Police attempted to get the man to leave the house, and eventually fired tear gas into the home, which started a fire.
When police entered afterward, they found the body of Purnell Jr. with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The other bodies were recovered shortly after.