Three dead after apparent murder/suicide Thursday in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Three people are dead after what police believe was a murder/suicide Thursday in Cedar Rapids, according to a news release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Police were called to the parking lot at 4900 Council Street NE — in Noelridge Park — at 12:24 p.m. for a report of a deceased person. A male, whose age was not stated in the release, was found dead of self-inflicted wounds in a temporary restroom in the parking lot, according to the release.

Investigators later found another crime scene in the 4400 block of Regal Avenue NE where two adults were found dead in what appears to be a double homicide. Police believe the two incidents are related and there is no threat to the public.

First responders were seen removing bodies from the house at 4432 Regal Ave. NE, Thursday afternoon. Neighbors of the house said the people who lived there were quiet.

“We just don’t really know them at all,” said Hannah Gire, who has lived across the street from the house for about three years. “I know more about the cat of the family than the people.”

Gire said she got home Thursday at about 1:45 p.m., and saw three police cars parked outside. An ambulance arrived later.

The deaths happened near Harding Middle School. Cedar Rapids Community School District officials said that police notified the school of the investigation happening nearby but advised the school it didn’t need to lock down, so the investigation had no direct impact on the school day.

The identities of the deceased have not been released pending notification of family, and the investigation into the deaths is ongoing, the release states.

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