Police are yet to disclose what prompted a mother to kill her son before taking her own life.
Cardon Children's Medical Centre
A mother looking after her ill son at a suburban Phoenix children's hospital took her son's life before taking her own.
The boy had been hospitalized for the past week. Police say nurses at Cardon Children's Medical Center in Mesa found the woman and her 5-year-old child dead inside the child's room after 2 a.m. Saturday.
Mesa police spokesman Steve Berry says the mother had a fatal gunshot wound but did not say how the boy died. Investigators believe the mother killed the child and then herself. No one else in the hospital was threatened or harmed.
Police say the mother has an open case with the Arizona Department of Child Safety, but she was the boy's legal guardian. Investigators believe it is a murder-suicide.
Hospital officials have released the following statement: "The safety of our patients, associates and visitors is paramount to us and is our top priority at this time. At no time were others impacted by this incident and we remain vigil in the safety of all we’re treating and seeing at Cardon Children’s Medical Center."
Detectives are trying to learn more details about the mother from family members. They are continuing the investigation at the scene.