Suspect In Murders Kills Himself During Police Questioning

"NEW TOWN, ND — The 911 call came at 3:17 p.m. Sunday from a young boy who told Mountrail County dispatchers that a man had come into his home and shot his family.

"The boy hung up before dispatchers could get more information, but the call was traced to 301 6th St. N. in New Town. There authorities found four victims, a woman and three of her grandchildren, identified by the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office as Martha Johnson, 64, Ben Schuster, 13, Julia Schuster, 10 and Luke Schuster, 6.

"Neighbors said the 12-year-old boy who called 911, also Johnson’s grandchild, survived by playing dead, which New Town Police Chief Arthur Walgren confirmed.

"About 7 p.m. Sunday, law enforcement learned a man had made statements about the crime. While investigators were questioning him in Parshall, about 17 miles east of New Town, he killed himself with a knife, said Sheriff Ken Halvorson.

"Johnson was caring for five grandchildren, according to friends and neighbors. The fifth grandchild was not home at the time, Walgren said. Her husband, Harley, also was not home at the time."

From The Dickinson Press...