Warren, MI — Tragedy struck on Sunday morning as police responded to an apparent murder-suicide involving a mother and her 26-year-old son in a quiet Warren neighborhood. The Warren Police Department released a statement detailing the sequence of events that unfolded in the 13,000 block of Geoffrey Street, located near 12 Mile Road and Schoenherr.

At approximately 8:22 a.m., officers received a distress call reporting a domestic assault at the residence. A 33-year-old man, identified as the woman’s other son, contacted 911 after waking up to a disturbing situation. According to the police, the man reported that his mother had pointed a firearm at him, prompting a brief struggle between them before he managed to flee to a neighbor’s house seeking help.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and attempted to make contact with the woman inside the home, but she did not respond. The situation escalated moments later when officers on site heard gunshots coming from within the residence. Police immediately forced entry and made a grim discovery—inside the house, the mother had allegedly fatally shot her 26-year-old son, Kris Knox, before turning the weapon on herself. Despite the officers’ immediate efforts to administer life-saving measures, both the mother and son were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Warren Police Department’s initial investigation suggests that the mother may have been struggling with mental health issues. “From what investigators have learned so far, there does appear to be a mental health history with the mother,” the police noted in their official statement. The department emphasized that there was no ongoing threat to the public, reassuring local residents that this was an isolated incident.

Family members were devastated as they gathered at the scene, attempting to comprehend the tragedy. Joan Knox, 70, the grandmother of Kris Knox, expressed her profound grief, describing her grandson as “her joy” and her daughter-in-law, the shooter, as a “sweetheart.” Speaking to local media, Joan shared that her daughter-in-law had been a single mother who raised her children with great care and dedication. “I called her my one and only daughter because I only have the one child, and she was a great single mom,” Joan said.

Joan further revealed that Kris had been battling a severe medical condition for several years. According to his grandmother, Kris had been suffering from chronic headaches, and it was later discovered that a large tumor, the size of a grapefruit, had developed behind his eye. Kris underwent two major surgeries to reduce the tumor, which had shrunk to the size of a chicken nugget, but he continued to endure significant health challenges. The physical and emotional toll of his condition weighed heavily on the family.

The specifics surrounding the motive and circumstances that led to the fatal shootings are still under investigation. Warren Police Chief William Dwyer mentioned that investigators and evidence technicians are working diligently to piece together what may have contributed to the tragic events. Authorities have been looking into the mental health history of the mother and examining the impact of Kris’ prolonged illness as potential factors in the incident.

The investigation has brought to light the importance of mental health awareness, especially in cases involving long-term caregiving and the emotional stress it places on families. Situations like these underscore the critical need for support systems, both emotional and psychological, for families grappling with prolonged medical conditions. The Warren Police Department has encouraged anyone struggling with similar situations to seek help from mental health professionals or crisis intervention services.

This tragic incident has left the Warren community in shock, as neighbors and friends continue to process the loss of two lives. As the investigation continues, authorities will be working to understand the full picture of what transpired in the Knox household.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Warren Police Department is urging anyone with additional information or concerns to come forward as they work to bring clarity to the tragic events that unfolded on that quiet Sunday morning.