On April 11, 2023, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 14-year-old Sakenlo Shawn Steele Jr. was tragically killed alongside his two younger sisters, 12-year-old Sakenya Syretha Steele and 9-year-old Sakendra Syann Steele. Their mother, 40-year-old Ethel Syretha Steele, fatally shot her three children before turning the gun on herself in an apparent murder-suicide.
Authorities responded to a call around 11:54 a.m.
and, upon forcing entry into the home on Brookhill Drive, discovered the four bodies. Investigations revealed that Ethel Steele, a nurse and single mother who homeschooled her children, carried out the shootings. The family had recently returned from a trip to Florida, and relatives expressed shock, describing Ethel as a loving and dedicated mother.
At the time of the incident, Ethel was reportedly on a FaceTime call, during which she shot her children before taking her own life. The person on the other end of the call witnessed the tragic events unfold.
The community and family members were left in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the motives behind the tragedy. Ethel's aunt, Wanda Caton, emphasized that such actions were out of character for her niece, urging the public to refrain from speculation as the investigation continued.
Law enforcement officials stated that they were not seeking any additional suspects and that there was no active threat to the community. The case was being treated as a murder-suicide, with ongoing investigations to uncover further details surrounding the incident.
