Mother of 4 killed in apparent murder-suicide

Updated
Ramsey Mother Killed In Murder-Suicide
Ramsey Mother Killed In Murder-Suicide

A mother of four from Ramsey, Minn., was shot and killed by her husband in front of their children before he turned the gun on himself, according to police.

Courtney Monson, 30, died Friday, allegedly at the hands of her spouse Bryce Monson, 41. According to 911 dispatchers they could hear screaming and crying as someone inside the house called for help, local TV station WCCO reports.

See more in the gallery below:

Police say Courtney tried to hide in the home's basement bedroom with three of her children when Bryce shot her multiple times with a semi-automatic handgun.

"It's just tragic," friend Dustin Reeder said. Courtney Monson volunteered with him at the Anoka Ramsey Athletic Association.

%shareLinks-quote="It's like a member of your family is gone." type="quote" author="Dustin Reeder" authordesc="Family Friend" isquoteoftheday="false"%

"It's been a shock to our community, so we're going to make a pledge to rally our community and our family behind her family and lift them up in every possible way we can," Reeder said.

Reeder posted the following message on Facebook:

According to local reports, there was a request to have the husband committed for chemical dependency and mental illness in 2003, but he was released after showing improvement in 2004.

Some say there was strain in the family relationship. Police are continuing its investigation.

A vigil will be held this Friday at 8 p.m. and thousands are expected to attend. The couple's children -- ages 2 to 12 -- are being cared for by relatives.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help cover funeral costs and raising the kids.

Advertisement