Briana Payne and her three daughters, 7-year-old Aurorah, 7, Ava, 6, and Alayna, 4, killed in shocking incident. Five people, including three children, were found shot to death inside an Indiana home in what police say was an apparent murder-suicide. Officers were called to a mobile home in Lake Station, which is located 40 miles from Chicago, on Friday afternoon to carry out a welfare check, and once inside found five bodies.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as 27-year-old Briana Payne and her three daughters, 7-year-old Aurorah, 7, Ava, 6, and Alayna, 4. Officials say they died from apparent gunshot wounds, and their deaths have been ruled as homicides.
The father of the girls, Robert Payne, 31, also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the coroner confirming on Saturday his death as a suicide. Neighbor Sandy Goodman told WBBM she had lived next door to the family for five years. “They were arguing a lot for the last few days,” Goodman said. “I knew there was something weird because the cars weren’t moved, and they go [out] every day.”.
”Nothing meant more to Briana than her girls. Aurorah, Ava, and Alayna were her heart and soul—her reason for everything. She raised them with endless love, warmth and laughter, and a fierce devotion that defined her as a mother,” it stated. Lake County Coroner David Pastrick offered his condolences to the family of the victims.
“On behalf of Lake County Coroner David Pastrick and the entire staff of the Lake County Coroner’s Office, our hearts go out to the family of this extremely unfortunate and devastating tragedy. Please hold your families and loved ones close as we mourn together as a community the loss of innocence.”.
