CBS/AP/ July 30, 2012, 12:11 AM

Daryl Benway, 41, of Oxford, Mass., man shoots his 2 kids and himself; 1 kid lives

Kelleen Benway is detained by a police officer after she returned to her home on Main Street in Oxford, Mass., on July 28, 2012.

Kelleen Benway is detained by a police officer after she returned to her home on Main Street in Oxford, Mass., on July 28, 2012. / AP Photo

(CBS/AP) WORCESTER, Mass. - A man who had recently separated from his wife shot his two children, killing his 7-year-old daughter, before committing suicide, prosecutors said.

A family member called police Saturday night after finding the bodies of 41-year-old Daryl Benway and his daughter, Abigail, in the master bedroom of their two-story Oxford home, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said.

Benway's 9-year-old son, Owen, was found shot in the head in the kitchen and was taken to UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center in serious condition. Owen has been in pediatric intensive care, a spokesman for Early said Sunday. He said he had no additional information about Owen Benway's condition, and a hospital spokeswoman would not comment.

Benway's wife, Kelleen, returned home after the shootings, unaware of what had happened, and found a swarm of police cruisers and television crews, Early said. She was taken to the children's hospital, where authorities told her the fates of her children and husband.

Neighbors told the Telegram & Gazette that Daryl Benway's brother Shawn lived on the first floor of the home with his wife and mother. Shawn Benway called 911 to report the shootings, Early said.

Early said he couldn't speculate on a motive. He said the Benways separated weeks ago but were still married.

No restraining orders had been filed against Daryl Benway, and he had no criminal record, the DA said. He had a gun license that expired in 1999, Early said.

On Daryl Benway's Facebook page, his profile picture posted in December showed him with his family in front of a Christmas tree. He described the woman next to him as "my Beautiful wife Kelleen." Owen stood in front of him in a white dress shirt and red plaid tie, while brown-haired Abigail wore a black and white dress with a black hair bow.

Daryl Benway listed his place of employment as TJX Cos., which operates discount retailers TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, as well as Ross Stores Inc.

The Benways lived in the two-story home with Daryl's brother Shawn, reports the Telegram & Gazette. Neighbors said Shawn lives on the first floor with his wife and the brothers' mother. Shawn Benway was the one who called 911, authorities said.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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prm777 says:
We're hearing of more and more of this type of crime, these days. There are a lot of people who feel at the end of their rope, with no escape and no hope for the future. You can blame the economy or the state of world events or divorce laws, etc., but pressures like this have existed throughout history. In my opinion, the main issue is that so many people have no "faith": they either do not believe in God, or they do not know Him and His promises. As a result, they see this life as a dead end, with the only question being "when will it end", so when they encounter difficulty, they look to put a premature end to it. They have no hope for a brighter future, for God's sustenance, nor any believe that He is "working all things together for their good". There is no "eternal perspective", including the promise for eternal life to those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. Believe me, I've been through some tough times myself (including divorce and foreclosure), but God was with me and brought me through. I pray that our nation and our world will have a revival and turn back to God, who has said in His word: "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life" Deut. 30:19.
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bill0129 says:
Ahhh... Murder-suicide. As American as apple pie and hot dogs.

When divorce courts and rotten women make American men face losing their children, home, job, and financial future, murder-suicide is the consequence.

Reform the divorce courts. 50-50 custody by default.
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differnet replies:
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Oh and this guy was such a good candidate for any kind of custody. And considering your comment below, I highly doubt you are one either.
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erasmus111 says:
How many shootings is that, today?
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f_blocker says:
Is this mother who just learned her husband just shot her children killing one and leaving the other with a gunshot wound in the head shown here in handcuffs?
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bill0129 replies:
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She is in handcuffs for tormenting the man so much, he committed this crime.
ultraskygod replies:
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Where in the picture do you see handcuffs? I see a woman whose arm are being restrained behind her, but I do not see any handcuffs.