Mother, 2 sons died of gunshot wounds, father died by suicide, Iowa police say
DES MOINES, Iowa – Police say three of the four people found dead in a central Iowa home this weekend were killed via homicide while the fourth person took his own life.
West Des Moines police say Chandrasekhar Sunkara, 44, killed himself inside his family's home. His 41-year-old wife, Lavanya, and the couple's 15-year-old and 10-year-old sons were killed by someone else, authorities say.
Autopsies conducted Sunday by the state medical examiner's office determined the causes of death, according to a news release. "Officials are working with surviving family members to provide support. Investigators are continuing to review evidence and conduct interviews," the release said.
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Police said other family members – two adults and two children – were staying in the home at the time as guests.
“This tragedy will impact family, friends, co-workers, anyone that knew this family,” West Des Moines police Sgt. Dan Wade said in a Saturday news release. “We are continuing to work through this investigation. We will follow through until we have answered as many questions as the evidence allows. We are confident, though, that there is no continuing threat to the community.”
With many unanswered questions, here is what we know so far:
Where and when did the shooting occur?
Though it is still not clear when the shooting took place, West Des Moines police were called to the scene around 10 a.m. for an "unknown problem."
Police said the caller was someone passing through the neighborhood who was approached by "one of the survivors" who fled the house looking for help after finding the bodies.
Neighbors willing to comment Sunday said they did not hear gunshots.
Dallas County Assessor's Office records show Chandra and Lavanya Sunkara bought the home March 25 for $570,000. Officials said all four lived in the home.
What do we know about the victims?
Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation, confirmed that Chandrasekhar Sunkara, who goes by Chandra, worked in the technical services bureau for the past 11 years.
He was a civilian worker, Mortvedt said, and so was not a sworn officer.
"This was a tragic event and our hearts go out to the family," Mortvedt said.
Sunkara was an information and technology specialist for the department, earning $105,000 in 2018, according to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. He won a Governor's Excellence Award from the Department of Public Safety in 2010, according to Sunkara's Facebook profile.
Counseling services will be made available Monday for any of the department's employees who need assistance, according to a Sunday news release.
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How are neighbors responding?
Although few had had many interactions with the Sunkaras, who had moved into the home in March, many said they are unsettled and saddened by the deaths.
Uni Kischer, who lives behind the Sunkaras' home, said she hadn't yet met the parents, but had talked to one of the sons a couple of weeks ago. The boy had come over to her yard after his electric helicopter went over the fence.
Kischer said she spoke with the boy for a little bit after retrieving the helicopter and added he was "very sweet and very, very polite."
"I just can't believe it. It's just horrific," Kischer said Sunday. "I was out yesterday with the neighbor's dog to the south, then I saw that yellow tape and I thought, 'Well, what the heck's going on there.' And another neighbor told me what was going on, and I was just shocked."
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Kischer, a resident of the neighborhood for over 20 years, said she can't recall anything like this ever happening in that area. Karl Wolle, a four-year resident of the neighborhood, said their street is quiet and friendly, saying "people know each other."
"It's obviously a terrible thing, and it doesn't threaten my safety – I'm not going to move or anything like that," Wolle said. "It's just very unusual for this neighborhood, but obviously it could happen anywhere."
Brandi Carter, who lives next-door to the Sunkaras' home, said hearing about the deaths was "very scary, just very surreal."
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