Crime02 September, 20262 min read
Inver Grove Heights Police Say Jaymison Samuel Shaw Killed Jamie Lee Charles, Two Sons
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Three killed in Inver Grove Heights townhome: Jamie Charles, Jaymison Shaw, Willie Shaw Jr. Police say it was a double-murder suicide involving the 22-year-old son.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Inver Grove Heights deaths
A welfare check at a townhouse in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, led police to find three people dead on Sunday: 43-year-old Jamie Lee Charles and her two adult sons, 22-year-old Jaymison Samuel Shaw and 19-year-old Willie Samuel Shaw Jr. Inver Grove Heights Police Chief Melissa Chiodo said, "Preliminary findings indicate this incident was a double murder-suicide," and she added that the incident "appears to have been contained within the residence" with Jaymison Shaw identified as the suspect.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reported that law enforcement evidence indicates Jaymison Samuel Shaw killed Jamie Lee Charles and Willie Samuel Shaw Jr., and that police began investigating after being called to the 3200 block of 78th Street East for a welfare check. The Hindustan Times said Charles had been a nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System for nine years, and it noted she posted on Facebook on August 16 that "One year ago today I was laying in a hospital dying."
Police statement and memorial
CBS News reported that police identified the three who died at a residence on the 3200 block of 78th Street East and said they believe the 22-year-old to be the suspect.
In a statement carried by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Police Chief Melissa Chiodo said, "This is a deeply tragic and heartbreaking event," and she urged the community to give those impacted "the privacy, care and assistance they need."
The Pioneer Press described a Monday night memorial where people released purple and black balloons and shouted, "Long live the family!" while Jarid Friese, Charles’ cousin, said, "I don’t know what happened, but I’m just saying that we can do better."
The Pioneer Press also quoted relatives urging mental-health support, including Ozell Shaw saying, "Mental health is not a joke," and it reported that Charles was a licensed practical nurse who worked for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, according to her Facebook page.
Fundraiser and what’s next
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to raise funeral and memorial costs, and Hindustan Times reported it had raised $37,754 of $45K as of the article’s publication. Hindustan Times also quoted Charles’ niece Polly Morgan in the fundraiser: "There are no words that can truly express the pain of losing three precious lives," and it said the campaign described each person as touching the lives of family and community.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS said GoFundMe verified a related fundraiser page on Monday after family members confirmed it was related to the Inver Grove Heights incident. Meanwhile, the Pioneer Press reported that officers responded to a request to check on the wellbeing of a person in the 3200 block of 78th Street East near Cahill Avenue, found the three family members dead in Charles’ residence on Sunday, and said the investigation remained ongoing.