WESTLAKE, Ohio — The Westlake Police Department is investigating after three people were found dead with apparent gunshot wounds at a home on Willow Run on Monday, authorities confirmed.
According to police, a person called after going into the house to check the welfare of one of the residents. The caller said a person was dead inside the home.
"He was worried about someone who lived in the home," said Westlake Police Captain Jerry Vogel.
When police arrived, they found three adults dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Vogel said they're investigating the situation as a murder-suicide.
"There is some type of relationship. What it is, I don't exactly know," said Vogel. He said their department will continue to investigate the relationship between the couple who lived at the home, a man and woman, and the other man who was found dead.
The two men found dead inside the home have been identified by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner as Brent Shira, 45, of Jefferson, Yi Chai, 35, and Nathan A. Demetra, 31, of Westlake.
According to police, Shira shot Chai and Demetra before turning the gun on himself.
Police said Shira and Chai were reportedly engaged.
Police presence was observed in the neighborhood and outside of the home Monday afternoon, and the Crime Scene Unit was called to the scene.
Vogel said police canvassed the neighborhood of Woodpath Development for hours Monday evening. They went door-to-door asking neighbors if they saw or heard anything and if they had any surveillance camera footage that could help police piece together what happened before the three deaths.
"You don't expect that to happen two or three houses down," said Frank Ricaurti, a neighbor.
News 5 also spoke to a neighbor named Lori. She just wanted to provide her first name but said the entire neighborhood is in a state of shock.
"It’s scary to have police come to your house and ask you a bunch of questions," said Lori.
She said she is relieved to know there's not an active threat to the area but is heartbroken to hear about the young couple. She said they were nothing but kind to others in the tight-knit community.
"Very sad and scared and praying for their families," she said.
Investigators from Westlake police are working with the Ohio BCI, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office and the Cuyahoga County Coroner to investigate the deaths, police said.
No other information was released.
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