WEST GREENWICH, RI – A tragic murder-suicide unfolded in a quiet West Greenwich neighborhood when a man used an assault rifle to fatally shoot his pregnant wife, their two young children, and then himself, according to authorities.

West Greenwich Police Chief Richard Ramsay described the crime scene as one of the most shocking he has ever encountered. The victims, Danielle Arruda, 39, and her children, five-year-old Adel and two-year-old Felex, were discovered with multiple gunshot wounds at their home on Cheyenne Trail. The assailant, Nicholas Arruda, had also shot himself after committing the murders.

Police were alerted after Danielle Arruda, who was seven months pregnant, missed work on consecutive days, which raised concerns among her colleagues. “They felt something was seriously wrong,” Ramsay noted, explaining that such absences were unusual for Danielle.

Upon arriving at the residence, officers found the front door securely locked with a safety chain, forcing them to enter by other means. Inside, they discovered the unsettling scene where all four family members had perished from gunshot wounds inflicted by a semi-automatic rifle, which Nicholas legally owned.

Nicholas Arruda was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leading investigators to conclude it was a murder-suicide. Authorities suspect the killings occurred sometime between New Year’s Day evening and the following morning, but the exact timing remains unclear.

Despite combing through the family’s history, the motive behind Nicholas’s actions remains as elusive as ever. “We still have to determine if anything might have triggered such a horrendous act against his family,” Ramsay said.

Though the investigation continues, police found that Nicholas had a history of violence, including a prior arrest for felony assault on another woman in 2014. Still, it is not known if this played any role in his actions.

In a heartbreaking statement, Nicholas’s brother, Jesse Arruda, expressed profound grief and condemnation of his sibling’s actions. “What he did was beyond cowardly and despicable,” Jesse said. “It is the complete opposite of what a man is supposed to do. My heart is broken for the children, my sister-in-law, and her family.”

The small community remains in shock as they process the devastating loss, with many grappling to comprehend how such a tragedy could unfold in their midst.