Four dead in New Town, another kills self in Parshall
Four dead in New Town, another kills self in Parshall
By Jerry W. Kram
Three children and their grandmother were murdered in New Town on Sunday afternoon. A New Town man who committed suicide in Parshall that evening is alleged to be the killer.
About 3:17 Sunday afternoon, the Mountrail County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call. At the scene Sheriff's Deputies found Martha Johnson, 64, and her grandchildren, Benjamin Schuster, 13, Julia Schuster, 10 and Luke Schuster, 6, dead in Johnson's home near the intersection of Sixth Street and West Central Avenue. According to Mountrail County Sheriff Ken Halvorson, the Schuster's 12 year old brother, whose name was not released, played dead after the shooting and then called 911.
The parents of the children are Rebecca and Kevin J. Schuster of Minto. The children were living with their grandparents Harley and Martha Johnson. The children were attending school in New Town, although the New Town School District would not confirm this due to privacy laws.
