A mother and three of her children were killed in Utah, and police believe the father was responsible before taking his own life. The tragic incident also left a teenage son severely injured.
The victims were Bu Meh, 38, her daughters Kristina Ree, 8, and Nyay Meh, 2, and her son Boe Reh, 11. They were found in their home in West Valley City, a suburb of Salt Lake City, on Tuesday. Police believe the father, Dae Reh, 42, killed his family before shooting himself. A handgun was found near him, suggesting it was a murder-suicide, though police haven’t said what led to the crime.
Bu Meh and her family had fled violence in Myanmar about 10 years ago. They spent time in a refugee camp in Thailand before coming to the U.S. with little more than the clothes on their backs. Bu Meh worked hard to build a better life for her family, learning English and new skills. Her family described her as strong and determined, saying she worked tirelessly to give her children a better future. They said they cannot understand why her husband would take away everything they had built.
The shooting likely took place over the weekend. A relative called police on Monday to ask them to check on the family, but they didn’t find anything unusual. On Tuesday, the relative went to the home, saw Sha Reh, 17, injured in the garage, and called for help. Police arrived and found the bodies of the others inside.
Sha Reh survived despite being shot in the head. He is in the hospital with a serious brain injury, and his family is calling him a hero. An online fundraiser has been set up to help pay for his medical care and college education.
Neighbors didn’t hear any gunshots, and there were no prior reports of violence at the home. This tragic event is the 38th mass killing in the U.S. this year, with 165 people having died in mass killings so far.