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This story contains mention of suicide and domestic violence. If you are at risk of suicide, please stop here and contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for support. Those facing domestic abuse can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit its website for a virtual chat.
A former Indiana police reserve officer is suspected of shooting his wife and two daughters before killing himself on Monday.
Thomas Joseph Nolan, a 43-year-old former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Reserve officer who retired in May, is believed to have shot his family, killing his wife and himself, and wounding his two teenage daughters in what police believe was domestic-related murder-suicide.
Indiana police officers responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance at a home just before 9 p.m. The fight rapidly escalated as one of the dispatchers remained on the phone with a caller.
“Upon officers’ arrival, they heard at least one gunshot from the dispatched location,” a police spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Officers made their way into the residence in attempt to stop the threat and any potential loss of life.”
When they entered the house, they found two teenagers with gunshot wounds. They then found Thomas Joseph Nolan and 41-year-old Ashley Nolan dead in the backyard. They also found a gun.
Teenage girls at hospital following shooting
Nolan’s teenage daughters survived the shooting and were taken to an area hospital. One was in stable condition while the other was in critical condition.
“We are deeply saddened and disturbed to hear about the tragic incident that happened Monday night,” the girls’ school district said in a statement. “We ask that you join us in keeping the students and their family in your thoughts and prayers.”
The girls are students at Perry Meridian Schools, where counselors would be available for staff and students, said the school district.
Neighbors talk about ‘shocking’ shooting
Gaby Sergent was walking around the neighborhood the night of the shooting around 11 p.m. when she noticed officers investigating the house.
“This all was just so shocking. I could never imagine this in our neighborhood,” she told the IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network.
She said she has lived directly behind the Nolan family home for the past decade and would wave at Ashley Nolan and her daughters. The two women would occasionally chat about the neighborhood or gardening, she said.
“She was always nice, she always kept the yard clean,” Sergent said. “She was a really sweet woman, and she was always smiling.”
Another neighbor, Kaylee Skroko, told IndyStar that she never saw police responding to the Nolan home. “The only cops we ever saw was him when he would come home from work,” she said.
Another neighbor, Nancy Snoddy, told WRTV Indianapolis that the whole neighborhood is pulling for the girls and hopes they get whatever medical and psychological help they need.
“My heart just aches for those children,” she said. “No parents − all we can do is pray.”
More about Thomas Joseph Nolan
Nolan was reserve officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for more than 20 years, starting on March 8, 2004. He resigned on May 15 but the department has not said why.
Nolan began his law enforcement career with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office as a reserve deputy in 2003. He also worked as a resource officer for the Perry Schools Police Department until September 2017, a Perry Township school spokesman told IndyStar.
Neighbors who spoke to IndyStar didn’t have much information about him.
Family annihilation
Family annihilation is a mainly American phenomena when a person attempts to kill their entire family and themselves, and happens around every five days in the United States, according to an analysis done by IndyStar on media reports and data from Gun Violence Archive.
Texas has the highest rate of family annihilation in the country, reported the Austin-American Statesman, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz
