A Minnesota father and his three young sons were killed in a murder-suicide that authorities initially discovered as a house fire.
Levi Christenson, 38, and his sons Oliver Christenson, 14, Felix Christenson, 14, and Calvin Christenson, 7, were found dead Sunday morning inside their Grand Meadow home as smoke billowed from the property, the Mower County Sheriff’s Office said in a release Wednesday. First responders arrived at the scene to find the house burning and the four bodies inside.
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Mower County Sheriff Steven Sandvik said Levi Christenson fatally shot all three boys before turning the weapon on himself. The manner of death for Calvin, Oliver and Felix was ruled homicide, while Levi’s death was ruled suicide.
“No suspects [are] being sought,” Sandvik told the Minnesota Star Tribune regarding the investigation.
“The nature of this tragic and inconceivable tragedy occurring in a close-knit community has touched all parts of the community,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement. “We continue to ask that the privacy of all involved is respected during this extremely difficult time as the community comes together to help each other come to grips with this tragedy and work toward healing.”
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
An online fundraiser has been established to support the boys’ mother, Lauren Hosp. DeeDee Payne, who created the fundraiser, described Hosp’s devotion to her children.
“Lauren’s three boys were her entire world, her greatest blessings, and the light of her life. Everything she did was rooted in the love she had for them,” Payne said.
“She was a truly spectacular mother who loved her boys beyond measure. Her love, dedication, and devotion to them were evident in everything she did.”
Payne added that Hosp’s identity as a mother defined her completely.
“Those who know Lauren know just how much being their mom meant to her. Her boys were her pride and joy, her happiness, and the center of her universe. The love she has for them is something that will never fade.”
Felix and Oliver, twins, both played as running backs for the Grand Meadow High School football team. Felix, a freshman, last appeared in a 38-20 victory against Kingsland High School. Oliver, who wore jersey number 24, last played in a 58-18 win against Bethlehem Academy on October 21.
A 2017 social media post from Hosp has resurfaced in the wake of the tragedy, showing her pride in her twin sons. She had shared a photo of Oliver and Felix holding their student of the month certificates.
“Could I possibly be a luckier Momma?” she said in the post. “These two won student of the month for kindness – in separate classes, from separate teachers (neither or (sic) which knew the other had awarded their student). I have some amazing boys and I absolutely could not be more proud!”
The fire that concealed the shootings broke out Sunday morning in the small southeastern Minnesota community of Grand Meadow, drawing first responders who then uncovered the violent scene beneath the smoke and flames.