Massachusetts family found fatally shot in an apparent case of domestic violence

ANDOVER — A father, mother and their 12-year-old son were found fatally shot inside an Andover home early Thursday, in an apparent case of domestic violence, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker and Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe announced.

Andover Police received a 911 call just after 3:21 a.m. that originated inside the house at 48 Porter Road.

Responding officers breached two doors to gain entry. Inside, they found a 56-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman and their son, all deceased from gunshot wounds.

The deceased were identified as Andrew Robinson, his wife, Linda, and their son, Sebastian. The incident appears to be a tragic case of domestic violence and murder-suicide. Andrew Robinson died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Obviously, we know the how; we’re trying to figure out the why right now, so we’re going to need some time to figure that out,” Chief Keefe said during a news conference at the scene.

DA Tucker said: “There is no danger to the public, at all. This entire situation was contained within the address here.”

The District Attorney’s Office is mindful of the dangers of domestic violence and reminds the public it has personnel and programs to help victims cope, as do outside agencies.

In addition, DA Tucker recognized the work of first responders.

“We only need to look back at the last couple of weeks in Massachusetts, some of the difficult things that our first responders – our State Police detectives, our local detectives, local police officers, firefighters and EMS,” he said during the news conference. “These men and women do an extraordinary job under some very difficult circumstances.”

St. John’s Prep in Danvers, the school Sebastian Robinson attended, is holding a prayer service in his honor at 5:00 p.m. today.

The incident is under investigation by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective Unit, other divisions of the Massachusetts State Police and the Andover Police Department.