The deaths of a nurse and her two adult sons at a Minnesota home were determined to be a “double murder-suicide” by police based on preliminary findings.
Officers discovered Jamie Lee Charles, 43, Jaymison Shaw, 22, and Willie Shaw Jr., 19, dead after being called to conduct a welfare check at an Inver Grove Heights residence on Sunday, August 30, according to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department.
An investigation revealed Jaymison was the suspect in connection with the deaths, the department said in a Tuesday, September 1, news release. Authorities have not yet released a motive or details on how the three family members died.
“This is a deeply tragic and heartbreaking event, and the Inver Grove Heights Police Department recognizes the profound grief this incident has caused for the community, especially for the family and loved ones of those involved,” the department said. “We ask the community to give those impacted by this tragedy the privacy, care, and assistance they need in the days and weeks ahead.”
A memorial was held for Charles and her two sons at South Valley Park on Monday evening, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported. Several people attended the memorial and released purple and black balloons for the family.
“I just want to make sure that everyone that’s here understands that mental health is a huge deal, and we can do better about it as a community,” Charles’ cousin Jarid Friese said at the event, per the newspaper. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m just saying that we can do better.”
Friese also said that Charles will be remembered “by her laugh.”
Charles worked as a licensed nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, her Facebook page shows.
Her niece, Polly Morgan established a GoFundMe in support of Charles’ father, Rodney Charles, who is the grandfather of Jaymison and Willie Jr. The fundraiser is meant to help with funeral and memorial costs.
“Our family is facing an unimaginable heartbreak after the sudden loss of three deeply loved members of our family: Jamie, Willie Jr., and Jaymison,” Morgan wrote in the GoFundMe.
“There are no words that can truly express the pain of losing three precious lives,” the page continued. “Each of them touched the lives of so many people and brought their own unique love, joy, and memories into our family and community. Their absence has left a space that can never be filled.”
Inver Grove Heights is about a 20-mile drive southeast from Minneapolis.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
