Father killed wife, 2 sons in Virginia murder-suicide, police say

(CBS/AP) HERNDON, Va. - Police say a Northern Virginia man fatally shot his wife and two teenage sons in the family home before killing himself earlier this week.

Fairfax County Police discovered the bodies Tuesday, but did not say how the four died until Wednesday, after the medical examiner had conducted autopsies.

According to police, 57-year-old Albert Peterson shot and killed his wife, 52-year-old Kathleen Peterson, and their two sons, 16-year-old Matthew Peterson and 13-year-old Christopher, before taking his own life. All four died from gunshots to the upper body.

Police checked on the home Tuesday after co-workers became concerned that the adults had not reported to work for two days.

A neighbor of the family, Alvaro Lopes, told CBS DC that the family recently completed building a deck and showed no outward signs of trouble.

"They were good people," said Lopes. "Very quiet [and] would hang out in their front yard and do some barbecues."

A candlelight vigil was scheduled Wednesday night at the family's church, Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon.