In a tragic incident, Anthony Nephew, a 46-year-old man from Minnesota, fatally shot himself, his wife, ex-partner, and two children following the election of President-elect Donald Trump on November 5.
Authorities revealed that Nephew had expressed frustration over Trump’s victory.
Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa stated that the shooter had a history of mental health issues, which became apparent after the discovery of five bodies in two homes on Thursday.
Inside the home of his ex-partner, 47-year-old Erin Abramson, authorities found her and their 15-year-old son, Jacob Nephew, dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
Following this, police identified Anthony Nephew as a suspect and subsequently discovered his 45-year-old wife, Kathryn Nephew, and their 7-year-old son, Oliver Nephew, also deceased from gunshot wounds in their nearby residence.
Before this horrific event, Anthony Nephew had been posting left-leaning and anti-Trump sentiments on his Facebook page. In a post from July, he expressed a deep struggle with his mental health, stating, “My mental health and the world can no longer peacefully coexist, and a lot of the reason is religion.”
He shared fears of being persecuted for his beliefs, mentioning intrusive thoughts of being harmed due to others’ misguided beliefs.
In another post, he criticised Republicans for allegedly making it more difficult for women to escape abusive relationships, referencing the dystopian themes of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” where women’s rights are stripped away.
Nephew frequently shared political content, including a graphic depicting former President Obama, Trump, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris. The graphic labelled Trump’s image with the word “hate” while associating the Democratic leaders with “hope,” “heal,” and “grow.”
In July, he lamented, “Not that anyone cares, but as an Independent voter, I would like to see both political parties in our country pick better candidates.”
In a 2021 op-ed for the Duluth News Tribune, Nephew issued a stark warning about his mental health struggles, stating, “For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide.”
He criticised the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the U.S., emphasising the lack of understanding and support available for those affected.
Authorities in Duluth, a city of nearly 90,000 residents located about 135 miles north of Minneapolis; have yet to determine a clear motive behind the shootings. Police have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
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