Residents of Winston-Salem in North Carolina are reeling in shock following the news that a mother and her three kids were found dead in their home on Brookhill Drive this week.
Reports of gunfire drew police to the residence on Tuesday, where they found the mother, 40-year-old Ethal Syretha Steele, and her three children—ages nine, twelve, and fourteen—dead from apparent gunshot wounds.
An investigation showed that no other suspects were involved and that the mother’s death was a self-inflicted wound.
A neighbor, Angela Terrill, was undeniably impacted by the news and told WNCT, “This happened in my neighborhood. You don’t want to see this. You see this on the news, and…it in another neighborhood. For it to happen here in our neighborhood is very concerning. It’s close to home,”
The tragedy has fostered an important conversation in the community, prompting many to seek solutions to prevent similar events from happening. Mental health professionals are urging people to recognize symptoms of depression and seek help for themselves or people close to them.