It was unclear how the woman, Linda Manigault, 34, and her daughter, Heaven Ross, died. The police did not identify the man, 32, who was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition. It was unclear what other relationships, if any, there were among the victims.
Heide Sanchez, who lived downstairs from Manigault in the two-story house, said Manigault resided with her boyfriend and four children. Sanchez said Manigault helped families at a homeless shelter.
“They were just churchgoing people,” Sanchez said. “You would never think that would happen to them. She was awesome. She was such a beautiful person.”
Sanchez said she bonded with Manigault, who had moved in about 15 months ago, because they were both working mothers.
Sanchez said she would sometimes babysit Manigault’s children. Two weeks ago, Manigault and Heaven shared lemon cupcakes with Sanchez’s family.
“I never would have thought this would have happened to her,” Sanchez said. “Her kids will never be the same.”
She said she had seen Manigault and her children Friday. She said that earlier on Saturday, three children in the family ran to a neighbor, who called the police.
The police responded around 1:30 p.m., they said. The call was initially classified as a hostage situation, according to the Fire Department, but after police officers entered the home, they found the man, the woman and her daughter “unconscious and unresponsive.”
The police continued to investigate on Saturday evening.
Neighbors, a few of them crying, gathered at the home. Some said the violence was unexpected in a neighborhood they considered close-knit and safe.
“I’ve never seen this before, ever,” said Oscar Carmona, 33, who has lived in the area for more than 16 years. “I’ve never seen something this graphic in this neighborhood. Fights with teenagers, that’s common, they’re kids, but not something like this. It’s like something out of a movie.”