Man calls police saying he just shot his family; 4 children killed

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (WJBK) - Neighbors on a quiet street in Dearborn Heights, Mich. are struggling to come to terms with what happened overnight. Four children were found dead in their home, and their mother is in the hospital.

Police say a man called 911 around 1:30 a.m., saying he had just killed his family. That man is in custody right now, and police say he is the father/stepfather to the children.

"It's bad. People are sick; they and need help, and a lot of times they won't get it," neighbor Ronnie Jones says. His family has lived on the street since the 1940s.

Police say the deaths happened at a home in the 4400 block of Hipp Street, which is near Annapolis and Pelham streets.

Two girls, just 4 and 6 years old, were found dead due to an apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in a car, and two teenagers were found shot to death in the basement. Their mother was also found there, stabbed and shot.

The mother of the children is currently in the hospital. We're told her condition was critical but is improving. Family friends gathered at the home after hearing the news and tell FOX 2 her name is Faith Green.

Police aren't releasing the names of the children or the suspect as the investigation is still ongoing.

"It's tough to respond to something like this. We aren't robots, we're human beings. Most of us have kids. It's very sad," says Dearborn Heights Police Lt. Michael Krause.

Police say the man in custody was the biological father of the youngest children and a stepfather to the older children.

When investigators arrived at the home, they say he was waiting on the front porch for them. Police had no idea what they would soon find in the home.

"It's going to bother some officers for some time. We are going to make sure they get counseling if they need it," Lt. Krause says.

Dearborn Heights Police Capt. Michael Petri says the department has no prior runs to this location.

Mayor Dan Paletko said in a press conference this news is devastating for the community, and is difficult to understand.

"Probably the same question you have is the one I have - what's the motivation of the perpetrator?" he said.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.