Boy, 9, Survives Being Shot in the Head By His Dad

Boy, 9, Survives Being Shot in the Head By His Dad


Daryl Benway, 41, a Massachusetts man shot two of his children, killing his 7-year-old, before he turned gun on himself and committed suicide, police said. (Facebook)



By SYDNEY LUPKIN
July 29, 2012

A Massachusetts man shot two of his children, killing one of them and wounding the other, before he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, police said.

When Oxford police arrived at the Benway home at about 5 p.m. Saturday, they found Daryl Benway, 41, and his daughter Abigail, 7, dead on the floor in the master bedroom, according to the Worchester Telegram and Gazette. They found Owen, 9, shot in the head on the kitchen floor, but still alive.

Law enforcement officials said they think Benway shot his children before he shot himself.

"It doesn't get much worse than this. It is a horrible scene," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said at a press conference.

It happened during a thunder storm, masking the sound for everyone but Benway's brother, who lived on the first floor of the home and called police, according WCVB, ABC's Boston affiliate. Owen was taken to the pediatric intensive care unit of a nearby UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center in Worcester, where he was in serious condition, according to WCVB.

Benway had separated from his wife three or four weeks ago and had no criminal record, according to WCVB.

According to Benway's Facebook page, he worked for TJX Companies, which owns retail stores including TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Friends who have written on his profile expressed loss and confusion. Some wrote that they think he's innocent.

Twitter user @Zaackaattack, whose profile says he's from Oxford, wrote, "I can't believe he killed his kids. I've known him my whole life. NEVER would have expected it. It's a #madworld."