A mother from New Hampshire may have shot her toddler son before turning the gun on herself, according to authorities.
Emergency services received a 911 call around 1 AM on Friday from another resident of the home located on Pembroke Hill Road. Reports suggest that two gunshots were heard, prompting the police response.
Officers found Julia Byrne and her three-year-old son, Blake, in an upstairs bedroom, both suffering from gunshot wounds to the head.
The 26-year-old mother was pronounced dead at the scene, while her son was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The case is currently under investigation for potential murder-suicide, as indicated by the New Hampshire Department of Justice.
The shooting occurred in a two-story house with yellow shingles, perched on a hill in a generally quiet area. Investigators were seen setting up crime scene tape early Friday morning to collect evidence.
A neighbor, Ryan Demars, mentioned he had not seen the family around often, expressing some surprise regarding the incident.
Demars remarked, “As far as I know, they were pretty much protecting themselves,” though it’s unclear what he meant by that.
Julia’s social media profiles display many joyful images of her and Blake enjoying activities like hiking and picnicking. However, she also shared numerous posts discussing the difficulties she faced with her mental health and motherhood.
Byrne enlisted in the US Army in 2018, though it is uncertain if she completed basic training or was on duty at the time of her passing.
