Man Fatally Shoots Four Family Members, Kills A Fifth By Burning Down Home

A Pennsylvania man fatally shot four of his family members and set fire to their family home, killing another relative trapped inside, prosecutors said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Canh Le, 43, is accused of fatally shooting his younger brother Xuong Le, 40, along with Le’s wife Britni McLaughlin-Le, 37, and the couple’s two children, Natalya, 17, and Nakayla, 13, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said, citing medical examiners.

The couple’s youngest child, Xavier, 10, was also killed after Canh Le set the home on fire, he said. The 10-year-old’s cause of death was determined to be from smoke inhalation.

Stollsteimer described the incident as “an absolute, unmitigated tragedy for everybody in this community.”

He said the incident began that afternoon when Canh Le got into a verbal argument with his niece, Nakayla, and left to retrieve a gun from his bedroom on the second floor. It’s unclear what the argument was about, Stollsteimer said.

“Everybody wants to know why. I don’t think we will ever get an answer. Canh Le took that answer to his grave,” Stollsteimer said.

When the uncle returned, he shot his brother, sister-in-law and their two older children,Stollsteimer said.

According to Stollsteimer, Canh Le’s father, who also lived in the home, went outside and called police during the incident. Gunfire could be heard in the background of the 911 call.

When police responded to the home, they were met with gunfire from Canh Le, who was shooting at officers from the third floor, Stollsteimer said. Two officers were injured.

Canh Le then set the home on fire before turning his gun on himself, he said.

Both of Canh Le’s parents survived the incident, and Stollsteimer described them as being “in