SURPRISE, Ariz. — A father and his two children were found dead Monday at a residence in Surprise in what appears to be a murder-suicide incident, police said.
Brock Mater, 34, and his two children, a 7-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl, were found deceased from gunshot wounds after police officers conducted a welfare check near Bell and Litchfield roads. A rifle was found in the father's lap, police said.
The mother of the children called police after the boy and girl failed to show up for school that day. The kids were visiting their father as the parents were going through a divorce.
The mother went by the father's residence and no one answered the door, resulting in her calling the police. The deceased individuals were found at about 12:30 p.m.
Investigators believe the shootings occurred Sunday night, based on noises heard by neighbors at that time.
Police said Mater had been undergoing mental health treatment. Police said the father had no known criminal history.
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