http://www.wsoctv.com/news/22996332/detail.html911 Call: Friend Feared Triple Murder Suspect Was SuicidalPosted: 5:15 am EDT March 30,2010Updated: 11:41 pm EDT March 30,2010
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide in southeast Charlotte. Late Monday night, they found four people dead, including a mother, toddler and teenager.
The victims were 34-year-old Nateesha Ward Chapman, 1-year-old Nakyiah Jael Chapman and 13-year-old Na'Jhae Parker.
Investigators said they think Nateesha Chapman was killed on March 14, and that the children were killed on March 15.
Police identified the suspect as 33-year-old Kenneth Jermaine Chapman.
Eyewitness News obtained the 911 calls which led to the horrific discovery of the bodies at the Berkshires on Providence Apartments.
On Monday, March 29, the victim’s uncle called dispatch to report he could not get a hold of Nateesha Chapman and was concerned for her safety.
911 operator: "Do you think that husband would have done something to them?"
Victim's uncle: "Well I feel like since they had arguments in the past, so after two weeks and arguments in the past, I'm a little concerned and would like to have a detective go over there and get some straight answers."
On March 19, police said a friend from Facebook called dispatch to say Kenneth Chapman was posting suicidal messages on his page.
Police said that caller never indicated whether there were any children or a wife who may be in danger. An officer responded to the home on Via Romano Drive twice that night, but no one answered the door and the officer reported seeing no suspicious activity.
# •SLIDESHOW: Police: Murder-Suicide Leaves 4 Dead
When police arrived at the complex late Monday night, the front door to the apartment was open. Police said they saw Kenneth Chapman standing on the stairs inside the apartment and called out to him.
Shortly after, police said he fired at them and then turned the gun on himself. When police entered the apartment, they said they found Kenneth Chapman dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They found a 10-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy unharmed.
Police searched the apartment and found two other children, Nakyiah Jael Chapman and Na'Jhae Parker, dead.
Capt. Paul Zinkann from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department fought back tears as he shared the details of the crimes.
"It's difficult for everyone," he said. "What this man did was despicable and cowardly."
Nakyiah was Kenneth Chapman's daughter. Na'Jhae Parker was not related to him.
Parker was an eighth-grader at McClintock Middle School. School officials said regular on-staff counselors were available to students Tuesday, and additional personnel will be at the school Wednesday.
The surviving 10-year-old girl attended school and kept her normal schedule for the past two weeks out of fear that Kenneth Chapman would kill her 2-year-old brother, police said.
Based on information they gathered, detectives then went to an apartment on Via Romano Drive to search for Nateesha Chapman. They found her dead in that apartment around 2:45 a.m. Tuesday.
According to the Medical Examiner's Office, the cause of death for Nakyiah and Nateesha was suffocation. Officials said Na'Jhae was stabbed to death.
The family was in the process of moving from the apartment on Via Romano Drive to the apartment on Providence Square Drive. They moved to the area nine months ago.
