GREAT BARRINGTON, MA - "Anytime there's a homicide, it's an unusual case," said Berkshire County District Attorney David Capeless.
That's his reaction to a case more complex than just a murder. He's talking about an apparent murder-suicide in Great Barrington involving a father and son.
Robert F. Paonessa called 911 around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday reporting a "tragedy" at 180 North Plain Road. But little did police know at the time, this tragedy was only half the story.
There are still many questions unanswered following an apparent murder-suicide in Great Barrington. Our Ryan Burgess talked to the District Attorney to find out more.
"Yesterday morning, the elder Paonessa made an emergency call to the police department to report a tragedy at the house -- to paraphrase what was said. The officer who responded found Mr. Paonessa and his son dead from gunshot wounds at the house. Based upon the examination there at the scene and what we've learned so far, it appears that he had shot and killed his son, sometime after that, made the phone call to police, then took his own life," said Capeless.
Although most of the victim's neighbors didn't want to be identified, they did say it seemed like a pretty normal household without any major problems. But they also said, behind closed doors, you never really know what's happening.
"Unfortunately, there are far too many suicides. And particularly, if you combine the two of them together, when you talk to family members, it's a horrible situation, so obviously this is very different," said Capeless.
It's a different kind of case, still with so many unanswered questions.