Man kills wife and daughter at Minnesota daycare before taking his own life
Police say Nathan Brown stabbed his wife and their 7-year-old daughter at a Hopkins daycare and then shot himself, while six other children were unharmed.
A 41-year-old man identified as Nathan Brown used a screwdriver to stab his wife, Kristen Brown, and their 7-year-old daughter, Evie, inside the family-run Brown Bear Childcare in Hopkins, Minnesota, before fatally shooting himself in an upstairs closet, according to a Hennepin County search warrant released Thursday.
Hopkins police said the investigation is ongoing. A father who was dropping off two children heard screams from the basement, entered the home and initially thought Brown was performing CPR before realizing an attack was underway. He called 911 and fled with his children and two other children present at the center.
Authorities also disclosed that Brown is suspected of having killed a 78-year-old relative at her home in Burnsville earlier in the week, though the woman's identity and relationship to Brown have not been released.
Six other children were in the daycare at the time of the incident; none suffered physical injuries. Police have not provided a motive, and there were no prior police calls to the address. The daycare, licensed since 2019 and compliant with state inspections through 2025, had a capacity of ten children and was slated to close, according to a letter sent by Kristen Brown citing “relationship issues with Nathan.”
Family members of Kristen Brown declined to comment.