2 kids killed ID'd after mom's apparent attempted murder-suicide

TABERNACLE, N.J. -- New Jersey State Police have released the names of the three children who were shot in what appears to have been an attempted murder-suicide in Tabernacle, New Jersey.

Financial troubles may have led to the violence, WPVI has learned.

Investigators say the incident was reported at 9:16 a.m. Thursday at a home in a subdivision on Holly Park Drive.

According to investigators, all of the victims were shot inside the same bedroom.

Nadia Harriman, 8, and 14-year-old Nicholas Harriman were dead when police arrived on the scene.

Alexander Harriman, 11, and 44-year-old Jeaninne LePage were still alive and rushed to Cooper University Hospital in Camden where they remain in critical condition.

LePage, who had been shot in the head, is said to be the mother of the children.

All four are believed to have been shot with the same weapon - a handgun found at the scene.

The incident was reported by family members, police said, who were in the home. Investigators say nobody heard the shooting.

Capt. Stephen Jones said, "We are not getting into reasons why right now."

Holding candles and wiping away tears, about 150 people gathered Thursday night to reflect on the tragedy.

Among them, 8-year-old Savannah Heller who held a pictured of her and her late friend 8-year-old Nadia.

"Nadia is my best friend and she was always nice to me," said Savannah.

Also there was Monique Currier, who says LePage has been her best friend for 33 years.

"And I can't believe this happened. I'm in complete and total shock and her kids were like my own kids and I can't believe this happened," said Currier.

Currier says LePage was an unemployed nurse who was having financial difficulties.

She was living in the home on Holly Park Drive with her children, her brother, his wife and their kids.

While authorities have not officially called this an attempted murder-suicide, Currier says LePage had confided in her a few months ago that if things got really bad, this is how she would end it.

The Burlington County community of Tabernacle is located in the sparsely populated New Jersey Pinelands.

Considering the nature of the shooting and the ages of the victims, grief counselors are being provided to first responders at the scene.

State Police Lt. Greg Giannone explained, "Our troopers are trained to expect the unexpected. However, a crime scene like this is impossible to prepare for."