Three people are dead, including a child, after an incident at a Hopkins daycare facility Wednesday morning at Brown Bear Daycare on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North.
The victims included an adult man and woman, as well as a child, who authorities believe are of the same family and potential owners of the facility.
Officers responded to a report of a domestic situation shortly after 9 a.m.
Police found a man, woman and child dead in the home, with all three victims believed to be family members.
A parent who arrived to drop off their children was the one to call police, and police believe the parent witnessed the incident.
At least six other children were present at the time, but all were unharmed.
Officers were able to get the children out of the home and reunite them with their families.
“There’s no worse scenario than this, where you drop off your child to somewhere you think is safe, and you get that phone call,”
said Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson.
Johnson said the perpetrator appears to be among the deceased, and they are believed to have taken their own life.
Officials are still trying to determine the exact cause of their deaths.
Police did not release details on the nature of the deaths and if the victims were shot or stabbed.
“This is a horrific, tragic situation for any community, especially here in Hopkins, where we don’t see this type of crime,” Johnson said.
“We’re a very safe community, and the impact is felt not only here but elsewhere for every parent who has a child in a daycare setting or anywhere where they don’t have immediate control over their child. So, yes, it’s heartbreaking.”
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty reacted to the deaths, calling the situation “tragic and devastating” in a statement, noting her office was aware and working with Hopkins Police as they investigate.
Moriarty said her office’s victim services division is prepared to support the individuals impacted by this incident.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey acknowledged at the start of his 2027 budget address Wednesday morning that a “critical incident” had occurred in Hopkins, saying “I know that our hearts and our prayers are with the people of Hopkins and any families that have been impacted” and that he had already touched base directly with Hopkins Mayor Hanlon, offering any assistance they could provide.
This was an isolated incident with no threat to the public at this time.
In the viral moment that shocked the Twin Cities community, a family believed to operate Brown Bear Daycare—an in-home childcare facility—became embroiled in a deadly domestic situation Wednesday morning.
Seven children were at the in-home day care at the time of the incident, including the child who was found dead.
A parent whose child attends the day care arrived for their daily drop-off and witnessed part of the apparent murder-suicide.
“This is a horrific, tragic situation for any community,” Johnson said during a news conference, adding that “the impact is felt not only here, but elsewhere for every parent who has had a child in day care,” with all of the victims being part of the same family according to police.
Investigators believe the perpetrator is the deceased male, who is believed to have taken his own life.
Police are expected to give another update on the situation at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Hopkins City Hall.