Full Breakdown
Tragic Murder-Suicide at a Hopkins Home Daycare Links Two Minnesota Homicides
8/13/2026, 4:03:08 AM
Background & Context
Hopkins, a suburb of Minneapolis with roughly 20,000 residents, is home to Brown Bear Childcare, an in-home daycare licensed since 2019 for up to 10 children. The facility passed state compliance inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025. On August 12, 2026, police responded to a report of a stabbing at the daycare’s residence on the 200 block of Tyler Avenue North.
Timeline
- Morning, ? 9 a.m. – A parent dropping off a child hears a disturbance, calls police, and officers find three bodies inside the home: a 41-year-old man, his 41-year-old wife, and their 7-year-old daughter. The man has a self-inflicted gunshot wound; the woman and child show apparent stab wounds. Six other children present are unharmed and later reunited with parents.
- Midday, ? 12:23 p.m. – Burnsville police respond to a residence on Maple Island Road and Joplin Avenue, discovering a 78-year-old woman dead from stabbing. She was a close family relative of the Hopkins suspect, who had been living at her home.
- Afterward – Both departments confirm no ongoing public threat and launch a joint investigation into the linked incidents.
Data & Statistics
- Victims in Hopkins: perpetrator (male adult), his spouse, and their daughter.
- Additional victim: a 78-year-old woman in Burnsville.
- Children present at Hopkins daycare: six; all survived without injury.
- Daycare capacity: 10 children; licensed since 2019; compliance confirmed in three consecutive inspections.
Official Statements & Responses
Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson called the scene “horrific” and said the incident appears isolated. He noted investigators believe the husband was the perpetrator and that the two tragedies are linked. Matt Smith, Burnsville Police Chief, echoed this link, confirming the 78-year-old victim was a close relative of the Hopkins suspect.
Mayor Patrick Hanlon said the tight-knit community is “reeling.” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey offered condolences and pledged assistance. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said her office is working with Hopkins police and mobilizing victim-services resources.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local residents described shock at the sudden violence in a neighborhood they called “quiet” and “tight-knit.” Neighbor Jean Healey said she could not imagine such a tragedy nearby. Long-time resident Amanda Marx recounted seeing police tape and trying to explain the scene to her 7-year-old son.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Weapon details: The male victim’s death is identified as a self-inflicted gunshot; weapons used on the female victim and child remain unspecified.
- Motive: No motive has been publicly disclosed; authorities are still investigating possible domestic factors.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a horrific, tragic situation for any community, especially here in Hopkins, where we don't see this type of crime,” — Brent Johnson
- “Based on work between our officers and investigators with the Hopkins Police Department, we believe this tragedy and the tragedy in Hopkins are linked,” — Matt Smith
- “We operate as a small community, and everyone knows each other,” — Patrick Hanlon
- “There are no strangers in this community so … we are all reeling from this tragic incident.” — Jacob Frey
What’s Next
Police continue to investigate motive, weapon specifics, and the timeline connecting the Hopkins and Burnsville events. Victim-services agencies remain available for families and community members affected by the tragedy.
