Man Kills Wife and Daughter at Minnesota Daycare
The Brief
A 41-year-old Minnesota man is suspected of killing his wife and their 7-year-old daughter at Brown Bear Childcare in Hopkins on Wednesday, August 12, before taking his own life, police said.
The killings happened at the in-home daycare at 236 Tyler Ave. N. A parent dropping off children witnessed the attack and called police shortly after 9 a.m., according to Hopkins Police Chief Brent Johnson.
Police found the man dead upstairs from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His 41-year-old wife and 7-year-old daughter were found dead in the basement. Authorities said the victims were the man’s wife and daughter.
Six other children were inside the daycare when the violence occurred. Police removed the children from the home, and authorities said none of them suffered physical injuries. They were later reunited with their families.
What We Know
The investigation expanded to Burnsville later Wednesday after police found a 78-year-old woman fatally stabbed inside a home near Maple Island Road and Joplin Avenue South.
Burnsville Police Chief Matt Smith said investigators believe the Burnsville killing is connected to the Hopkins deaths. Police said the 41-year-old man had been living at the Burnsville residence with the woman, whom authorities described as a close family relative.
Police have not released the names of the victims. Investigators also have not established the exact timeline between the Burnsville killing and the deaths in Hopkins.
Authorities said they had not determined a clear motive. Police also said there was no known history of police calls to the Hopkins residence.
The daycare had been licensed by Minnesota since 2019 and had a capacity of 10 children. State records show it was found to be in compliance during inspections in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
What’s Next
Police are executing search warrants at both the Hopkins daycare and Burnsville residence as investigators work to establish the sequence of events and determine a motive.
Authorities have said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the wider community. The investigation remains active as police continue processing evidence from both locations.
Hopkins police are also working with other agencies involved in the Burnsville investigation to establish how the two scenes are connected. Officials have not announced any additional suspects.
