Police: 2 Brothers Killed In Murder-Suicide

A triple shooting that left two men dead and a 13-year-old boy in critical condition is the result of a murder-suicide between two brothers, Blue Springs police said.

Detective Troy Pharr said the brothers, Daniel Sawvell, 44, and Ray Sawvell, 38, got into an argument Tuesday night. The younger brother pulled a gun and shot the 44-year-old twice.

The teen was also shot more than once.

"The 13-year-old just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Pharr said.

The victims are all related. Police said the teen may have been trying to protect his father.

Pharr said the 38-year-old brother then went into the living room and killed himself. The preliminary ruling from the medical examiner confirmed the murder-suicide.

Police said they were called to a domestic disturbance at a duplex about 10:30 p.m. and found the victims. KMBC's Peggy Breit reported that it was the sister of the men killed who called police.

"The officers approached the front door and noticed the 13-year-old inside the front door, slumped over," Pharr said.

Police said it's not clear why the men were fighting.

"It is very, very tragic," neighbor Larry Ashley said. "It's very hard for everyone to know that something that bad would happen, especially to your neighbors -- my heart goes out to them."

The mother of the men also lived at the home. Police said she was so upset by the shootings that she couldn't provide much information.

Police said they've been called to the home before. On one visit, officers felt threatened, so there's a notice in the police computer system to use caution coming to the home and to bring extra officers.

The teenage victim is in critical, but stable condition at a Kansas City hospital.

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