A fire in Long Branch that took the lives of a family of four has been ruled a murder-suicide, authorities said.
Murder-suicide
Lyndon “Shane” Beharry shot his common-law wife and their two children Tuesday night inside their home at 245 Joline Avenue, authorities said. Then he turned the gun on himself.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office ruled the deaths of Beharry, 30, Amanda Morris, 29, Brandon, 7, and Brian, 4, an apparent murder-suicide, followed by a suspicious fire. All of the victims had gunshot wounds, but a medical examiner determined Beharry’s injuries were from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Morris’ mother, who lives down the street from where the tragedy took place, told APP.com that it’s a terrible dream and couldn’t believe her daughter and grandchildren were gone.
“She was the sweetest thing in the world,” Angela Lalloo said of her daughter. “She loved her two kids. We all loved those kids.”
Long Branch Fire
911 received multiple calls at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday reporting a fire at the Beharry residence, according to the prosecutor’s office. Firefighters struggled to break down the front door, but they got in through a side-door and contained the fire.
Firefighters entered a second-floor bedroom and found the four victims huddled together.
All four had gunshot wounds. They were taken to Monmouth Medical Center, but died despite efforts to save them.
“While the cause of death is still pending additional studies, which will not be available for several weeks, all four individuals have injuries that are consistent with gunshot wounds,” Charles Webster, spokesman for the Monmouth County prosecutor, said in a written statement.
