Plainfield, IL – A devastating murder-suicide shook a quiet Plainfield neighborhood early Monday morning when a man fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself, all while their four children were inside the home.
Police responded to a 5:50 a.m. call of gunfire at a residence in the 1800 block of Burshire Court. Upon arrival, officers found 40-year-old Jennifer Heit deceased in the garage with a gunshot wound. Her husband, Ryan Heit, was discovered dead in the yard from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities confirmed that four children, ranging in age from 3 to 16, were inside the home during the tragedy but were physically unharmed. They are now in the care of family members.
Neighbors reported hearing an argument shortly before the shots rang out. “Someone heard one shot, a lot of screaming and then another shot and that’s that,” said neighbor Sean Cochran, who added that the family had appeared to be in conflict for several days.
The Plainfield Police Department continues to investigate, calling the incident a domestic-related murder-suicide.