Danielle Arruda,Nicholas Arruda Obituary, Death; – A 39-year-old man from West Greenwich tragically shot and killed his pregnant wife and their two children before taking his own life, according to police reports released on Wednesday morning.
West Greenwich Police Chief Richard N. Ramsay confirmed the identities of the victims as 39-year-old Danielle Arruda, her five-year-old daughter Adele, and her two-year-old son Felex. The perpetrator has been identified as 39-year-old Nicholas Arruda.
The incident occurred between 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day and 5:20 a.m. on January 2, within the family’s residence on Cheyenne Trail, located near the shores of Lake Mishnock.
The bodies were discovered on January 3, when officers conducted a welfare check on Arruda, who had failed to report to work. Upon their arrival at approximately 10:13 a.m., they encountered “suspicious circumstances,” prompting them to forcibly enter the home.
“I wish there could be an explanation to help you make sense of this horrific act,” Ramsay stated. “But the truth is we may never know why it happened.”
Inside the residence, officers found four bodies, all of which displayed multiple gunshot wounds, indicating that gunfire was the cause of death.
“Once inside the home,” Ramsay noted, “officers immediately observed the bodies of two young children, an adult male, and a pregnant female. It was clear that there were no signs of life among the bodies, all of whom had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.”
The exterior door was locked from the inside. Nicholas Arruda died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by Ramsay. An M4 semi-automatic weapon was found lying on the ground beside him, according to Ramsay.
Nicholas Arruda had a history of domestic violence that did not involve Danielle Arruda, and it appears he obtained the M4 weapon legally. The investigation into the deaths is being conducted jointly by state police and the West Greenwich police department.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or 1-800-273-8255, or visit 988lifeline.org for online support.
