A 48-year-old man shot and killed his 11-year-old son in their New Jersey home before taking his own life, officials say.
Police making a welfare check at the Jerusalem Road home where Jens Elberling lived with his son found the bodies Saturday; prosecutors say the two had been dead since late last week.
A rifle prosecutors say was used in the murder-suicide was recovered from the home.
"This was an unthinkable tragedy that cut short a young life," Acting Prosecutor of Union County Grace Park said in a statement. "We want to extend our deepest sympathies to the family at this time."
Neighbors said Elberling was renting the home and that that he and his son had only recently moved in.
Prosecutors say the boy was homeschooled.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
