Patrick King

Mass Murderer

Patrick King and the 2026 Plainville Family Murders

Overview of the Case

On March 27, 2026, a devastating triple homicide and murder-suicide occurred inside a family home on Milford Street in Plainville, Connecticut. Police identified the gunman as 27-year-old Patrick J. King, a relatively new resident of the community. Authorities said King fatally shot his longtime girlfriend, 31-year-old Felisha Matthews, and her two daughters, 12-year-old Mileena Matthews and 4-year-old Ava R. King. Ava was the daughter of both King and Felisha, while Mileena was Felisha's daughter from an earlier relationship. The killings were discovered after King's sister contacted the Plainville Police Department at approximately 3:53 p.m. She reportedly told dispatchers that her brother had called her and claimed that he had shot his girlfriend and his 4-year-old daughter. He also allegedly said that he intended to take his own life. The alarming call prompted an immediate response from local police officers, state authorities and a regional tactical team.

The Police Response

Officers arrived at the Milford Street residence and established a security perimeter around the house and surrounding neighborhood. Police initially attempted to contact King and persuade him to leave the residence peacefully. When their early efforts were unsuccessful, a SWAT team and trained negotiator were brought to the scene. The negotiator eventually established telephone contact with King. For approximately two hours, officers attempted to convince him to surrender. Police were dealing with an armed suspect who had allegedly admitted killing members of his family, and authorities did not initially know whether anyone inside the house might still be alive and in need of immediate assistance. After the prolonged negotiations failed to bring King outside, officers decided to deploy pepper gas into the residence. The gas was intended to force him to leave the house without requiring officers to enter while he remained armed. Police Chief Christopher Vanghele said that a gunshot was heard shortly after the gas was deployed. Officers entered the home and found King suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures before transporting him to a hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Police then searched the residence and discovered the bodies of Felisha, Mileena and Ava. All three had suffered fatal gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Victims

• Felisha Matthews, 31 - Fatally shot on March 27, 2026, inside the family's residence on Milford Street in Plainville, Connecticut. She was Patrick King's longtime girlfriend and the mother of Mileena Matthews and Ava King.
• Mileena Matthews, 12 - Fatally shot on March 27, 2026, inside the Plainville home. She was Felisha Matthews' older daughter from a previous relationship and was attending middle school in Plainville.
• Ava R. King, 4 - Fatally shot on March 27, 2026, inside the Milford Street residence. She was the daughter of Felisha Matthews and Patrick King.

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Confirmed Victims: (4)

Felisha Matthews 31 yr old Male

Twenty-seven-year-old Patrick King is believed to have ...