Mt. Lebanon Police Chief Jason Haberman confirmed a murder-suicide investigation after a father and his two children were found dead at the base of a parking garage.
Patrick Lynch, 42, his son James, 8, and daughter Caroline, 6, were discovered near the garage in the affluent Pittsburgh suburb around 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office. Responders attempted life-saving measures but all three were pronounced dead at the scene from injuries consistent with an apparent fall.
“Preliminary information suggests that this incident is a murder-suicide,” the county police department confirmed in a statement. The exact circumstances remained under investigation, including how far the three fell from the structure.
Haberman, speaking to reporters at the scene, made clear the deaths were being investigated “not as an accident.” The chief, who struggled to contain his emotions while addressing the media, delivered a stark assessment of the community impact.
“There will be a significant amount of trauma associated with this event for the community,” Haberman said.
The upscale suburb sits approximately five miles south of downtown Pittsburgh. Haberman emphasized the interconnected nature of the tight-knit area, noting that personal connections to the victims would be widespread.
“Everybody in the Mt. Lebanon community will know somebody involved in this incident,” Haberman added. “We really want to send our condolences.”
A black vehicle was sealed off with police tape at the garage, though authorities did not immediately clarify its connection to the incident. The motive that led Lynch to kill his children and himself remained unclear.
The Mt. Lebanon School District announced immediate support measures for students and staff. Two elementary schools were closed Wednesday, while students at other district schools were permitted to stay home with excused absences. School counselors were made available to those needing assistance.
The deaths came on a weekday afternoon in a community unaccustomed to such violence, leaving residents and officials grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy.