Michigan news anchor killed, 4 others injured in apparent murder suicide

A Detroit newscaster was killed and his girlfriend and their two children were injured in what police call a murder and suicide attempt – carried out by a 54-year-old “frequent visitor” to the radio host’s home in Michigan.

The attack happened around noon on Friday, police said, after Jim Matthews, an overnight anchor at WWJ950, ​​invited the currently hospitalized suspect to his home in Chesterfield Township, a quiet suburb outside Detroit.

Shortly afterwards, police were called to the home and found 57-year-old Matthews dead and his 35-year-old girlfriend critically injured after being stabbed multiple times.

Also injured, the couple’s 10-year-old daughter, who was found tied up in a closet with head trauma, was seriously injured, police said. She was immediately hospitalized, with her current condition as yet unknown.

The unidentified injured woman, Matthew’s live-in girlfriend, was also hospitalized after she escaped the horrific scene with the couple’s other daughter, aged five, who suffered minor, unspecified injuries, according to the report. the police.

Stabbed multiple times and leaving her older child behind, the woman was able to flee the house with the young girl and stop a driver to call the police. Both have since been hospitalized, with the girl in stable condition with unspecified injuries and Matthews’ partner more seriously injured.

Upon arrival at the residence, authorities also found the 54-year-old male suspect, overdosing on heroin and suffering from self-inflicted wounds in the basement of the house.

The suspect was then resuscitated by officials with the prescription narcotic Narcan and was taken into custody. He remains in hospital and is in stable condition, but faces a litany of charges for the attack – for which police have not yet revealed a motive.

The attack took place around noon Friday at the home of Matthews and his girlfriends on Bayview Drive off Hooker Road in Chesterfield Township, a quiet suburb outside Detroit.

Police noted that the unidentified assailant was an acquaintance of the family and a frequent visitor to the residence, and had been invited to the home before carrying out the attack, police said.

The sudden tragedy has since shaken locals and the Detroit news scene as they mourn the late anchor, who was the radio station’s nightly news anchor for nearly seven years.

The late announcer was remembered by his longtime employer as a devoted and reliable family man who was passionate about reporting the news throughout his time with the network.

“He often talked to colleagues about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school,” the radio station wrote.

“He was a consummate professional and was dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. He loved to bring the latest news to his listeners.’

The station added that “many tears have been shed in our newsroom” following Matthews’ sudden death, and that “our thoughts and prayers are with Jim’s family and friends.”

The sudden tragedy has since shaken locals and the Detroit news scene as they mourn the late anchor, who spent nearly seven years as the radio station’s overnight news anchor.

The 54-year-old suspect, who police say was a family friend and was invited prior to the attack, remains in hospital and is in stable condition.