.WINSTON-SALEM, NC – An incident of murder-suicide in Winston-Salem led to the tragic loss of two siblings. Early on Tuesday morning around 3:30 a.m., police responded to a shooting report at Water Lily Circle. On arrival, they discovered the deceased bodies of David Lee Housden, 55, and his two children, Alexander David Housden, 20, and Kaylee Nicole Housden, 16, all bearing gunshot wounds.
Citing preliminary findings, Police Chief William Penn said they believe that Housden perpetrated the fatal shooting of his two children before turning the gun on himself. The mother of the children placed the call that alerted the authorities of the incident. Police are still investigating the events leading up to the siblings’ untimely deaths.
Atkins High School, which Kaylee Housden attended, has heightened its support for grieving and impacted students by deploying a crisis team and availing counseling services from today, according to Superintendent Tricia McManus. Alexander Housden was a student of Winston-Salem State University.
This devastating incident marks the second instance of murder-suicide in Winston-Salem this year. The first occurred in April when Ethel Steele allegedly killed her three children, aged 9, 12, and 14 years, before committing suicide on Brookhill Drive. The shocking incident left both neighbors and family members shell-shocked and grieving.
Consequently, the city of Winston-Salem has reported 44 homicides in 2023, including the untimely deaths of Alexander and Kaylee Housden, marking a significant increase from the 33 homicides recorded over the same timeframe in 2022.
In light of these tragic events, Andy Nagler, the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Forsyth County, underscored that his organization is available to assist individuals needing mental health support no matter their income level or insurance status.