Police identify North Carolina father who killed his family before turning gun on himself

The family involved in the North Carolina murder-suicide has been identified as police confirm the husband killed his wife and three children before turning the gun on himself. Robert J. Crayton, Jr., 45, shot Athalia A. Crayton, 46, Kasin Crayton, 18, and two unidentified juveniles aged 10 and 16, according to police. The minors were

The family involved in the North Carolina murder-suicide has been identified as police confirm the husband killed his wife and three children before turning the gun on himself. 

Robert J. Crayton, Jr., 45, shot Athalia A. Crayton, 46, Kasin Crayton, 18, and two unidentified juveniles aged 10 and 16, according to police. The minors were named as Nyla and Nasir by a family member on Facebook

Police found the bodies at their High Point home on Saturday morning around 7am after receiving a report of two people, aged 22 and 25, running down the street and screaming for help.

'The man said that it was his father,' a neighbor told Fox 8. 'He woke up, and there was a gun to his head. Somehow he pulled the magazine out of the gun, and they escaped.' The other survivor was a visitor.

Athalia A. Crayton, 46, was killed by her husband before he turned the gun on himself on Saturday morning in their North Carolina home

Athalia A. Crayton, 46, was killed by her husband before he turned the gun on himself on Saturday morning in their North Carolina home

Nyla, 16, and Kasin Crayton, 18, were also shot by their father before he took his own life. Pictured: Nyla, left, and Kasin, right

Nyla, 16, and Kasin Crayton, 18, were also shot by their father before he took his own life. Pictured: Nyla, left, and Kasin, right

It remains unclear why the gunman chose to attack his family and authorities said they will likely never find out.

'We may never know why,' Lieutenant Patrick Welch said. 'What goes through the hearts and minds of a person that would do this sometimes dies with them.'

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The gruesome scene was traumatizing for many officers in the High Point Police force, who claimed they have never seen anything like it before. 

'I have been in law enforcement a little over 18 years now, and I’ve never seen anything of this magnitude in the City of High Point,' Captain Matt Truitt said at a Monday press conference.

'We have to monitor our own officers now,' Chief Travis Stroud said, according to NBC. 'This was a heavy-duty crimes scene. We have to watch out for our own officers and their own mental health and how they push through this incident.' 

Officers have responded to the family's High Point about five times since 2014 - with the last stop by occurring on January 3 when police performed an 'involuntary mental commitment order'.

The gunman struggled with a mental health disorder but didn't disclose the details, according to Fox 8. 

The gruesome scene was traumatizing for many officers on the High Point Police force who claimed they have never seen anything like it before. Pictured: Nyla on her 16th Birthday

The gruesome scene was traumatizing for many officers on the High Point Police force who claimed they have never seen anything like it before. Pictured: Nyla on her 16th Birthday 

It is unclear why the gunman chose to attack his family and authorities said they will likely never find out. Pictured: Kasin

It is unclear why the gunman chose to attack his family and authorities said they will likely never find out. Pictured: Kasin 

The family lived at their home 2734 Mossy Meadow Drive (pictured). Two people made it out of the house alive

The family lived at their home 2734 Mossy Meadow Drive (pictured). Two people made it out of the house alive

Authorities are concerned about the mental well-being of officers who are dealing with the gruesome crime scene

Authorities are concerned about the mental well-being of officers who are dealing with the gruesome crime scene 

The family was grieved on social media in a dedicated Facebook page run by a relative. 

'I love them dearly,' Ptah Thompson wrote in a post. 'I love them for who they are... the quality of their character and the pure golden essence of their hearts. We're grieving tremendously and our hearts are broken from what has befallen my dear family.' 

Thompson designated his profile to share photos of the family, while others warned about fake GoFundMe accounts. 

The Guilford County Schools -  where the children attended - issued a grieving statement.

'It is with deep regret that we inform you about the recent loss to our school community of an 18-year-old and a 16-year-old student who attended Ragsdale High School, as well as a 10-year-old student who attended Union Hill Elementary School, the statement read. 

'We are heartbroken and our thoughts are with the family.' 

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