German man suspected of killing family amid fears over faked vaccine certificate, officials say

BERLIN – German investigators said Tuesday that a man suspected of killing his family and then himself left a note indicating he was afraid of being arrested after procuring a fake vaccination certificate for his wife.

The bodies of two 40-year-olds and their children, ages 10, 8 and 4, were found Saturday with gunshot wounds at their home in Koenigs Wusterhausen, just outside Berlin.

Prosecutor Gernot Bantleon told the news agency dpa that the man said in the note, which was found at the house, that he had had a vaccination certificate forged for his wife, and her employer had found out. The couple were afraid they might be arrested and their children would be taken away. The prosecutor wouldn’t give further details.

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Investigators suspect the man killed his wife and children and then himself. They found a gun in the house, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether it was the weapon used to fire the shots. They found no indication that anyone else was present at the time or that anyone forced their way into the house.

The American Psychiatric Association encourages anyone feeling severe symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts to contact a health professional. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255) or via online chat.