Kimberly Nguyen and her sister, Lilly J. Nguyen, were murdered by Kimberly's long-time boyfriend Joseph Cummings, who then shot himself. Kimberly Nguyen was six months pregnant with Cummings's child and was the mother of a 12-year-old girl who was home at the time of the killings:
Police recovered two handguns, including a .45-caliber handgun. Blodgett said Cummings did not have a valid license to carry a firearm, but had previously been issued one while he was living in Melrose. That permit had expired, Blodgett said.According to the District Attorney, the violence began with an argument that might have been over the name of the child, though it's still being investigated. They might have been arguing over a name, but it's obvious there were a lot more larger issues hanging over this tragedy.
Blodgett said the violence began with an argument between Cummings and Kimberly inside the second floor master bedroom. Cummings, at some point, then shot Kimberly.
Lilly Nguyen heard the gunshots and jumped out a second floor window, Blodgett said. As she was trying to run away, Cummings shot and killed her, he said.
Cummings then returned to the master bedroom where he shot himself.
The 12-year-old, who was "frozen in fear" at one point, ran to a neighbor's house and safety, he said. She is not Cummings's child, he said.
Lilly Nguyen had graduated in Wesleyan University in 2006 and was in the process of applying to medical schools when her life was ended. Kimberly Nguyen's surviving daughter is currently staying with relatives.
UPDATE: According to police, the dispute was indeed over the baby's last name. Kimberly Nguyen wanted to hyphenate the name, and Joseph Cummings did not. Now three people are dead: Police say killings were over baby name.
