A tragic shooting involving five fatalities has occurred in Duluth, Minnesota, as authorities confirm that 46-year-old Anthony Nephew shot himself, his wife, his ex-partner, and two of his children shortly after the November 5 election that brought President-elect Donald Trump into office. According to police reports, Nephew had expressed distress over the election outcome.
The Duluth Police Department reported that Nephew had a “pattern of mental health issues.” Police Chief Mike Ceynowa shared this information following the discovery of the bodies on Thursday. Authorities found Nephew’s ex-partner, Erin Abramson, 47, and their 15-year-old son, Jacob, in one home, while his current wife, Kathryn Nephew, 45, and their 7-year-old son, Oliver, were found dead from gunshot wounds in a nearby residence.
In the months leading up to the incident, Nephew had voiced his struggles on social media, sharing concerns over his mental health and political frustrations.
In a July post, he expressed fears of religious persecution and described intrusive thoughts linked to his anxieties. He also shared a series of anti-Trump and left-leaning posts, including criticism of Republican policies and fears that societal shifts threatened his family’s safety and personal freedoms.
Previously, Nephew had written publicly about his mental health struggles, addressing the stigmatization of mental illness in an op-ed for the Duluth News Tribune.
“For millions of Americans, a breakdown leads to suicide — or homicide before suicide,” he had written, highlighting the lack of support and understanding for those struggling with mental health in the US.
Authorities in Duluth, a city of nearly 90,000 residents, have not identified a clear motive for the shootings but have stated there is no ongoing threat to the community.
