The parents of five children were killed by masked intruders in their Florida home, but their kids aged one to 11 who were in the house at the time were spared.
Kantral Brooks and Esther Deneus, both 29, were found dead at the home in Bradenton, police told
WFLA-TV. Surveillance cameras at the home showed at least three weapon-carrying invaders hurling a brick through the front door about 3:50 a.m. Thursday.
Authorities said the video showed intruders killing Brooks by the front door and Deneus farther inside the home.
Police told the
Tampa Tribune that three to five suspects remain unidentified and at large. They said they don't know if there was a motive or if the incident was random.
Authorities said the children are in the custody of state's children protective service.
"If we can get anything from the kids or video we can get, that that's where we will start from," Bradenton Police Det. James Rackey told
Bay News 9.
"Whoever came to this house and did this will be talking about it and somebody knows about it someone is going to hear something," said Rackey. "We need their help, we need them to call us with any tips and info so we can put these people behind bars."
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is assisting in the investigation and is hoping witnesses will turn up.
Family members broke down as news of the shooting deaths spread, said WFLA-TV.
"Whoever did this, it's just messed up. It is," said Brooks' sister, Shemeaka Waters. "Why did you have to kill him? You didn't have to do that. But you did. [The children] don't know what's going on, they're probably still in shock."
Rackey told the
Bradenton Herald the incident will have an emotional impact on the children.
"We talked to the family and told them these kids, if they saw anything, it's going to be very traumatic for them," Rackey told the Herald. "The kids need the family's strength, they need to know the family is there for them and they need their support."