Husband Kills Wife During Dundalk House Party, Turns Gun On Himself

DUNDALK, Md. (WJZ) -- In Baltimore County, a husband and wife are dead--their daughter still in the hospital--after an apparent murder/suicide in Dundalk.

Linh Bui has the latest on the investigation.

A house party on Kavanaugh Road turned violent and deadly early Saturday.

"I seen they had the forensics vans and the police cars and I said, 'This ain't good,'" said Michael French Jr., neighbor.

Around 3 a.m., James Burnham and his wife, Terri Ann, went upstairs. Their 25-year-old daughter, Shannon Nicklas, followed. Minutes later, guests heard gunshots.

"The daughter came back downstairs suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body. At that point, everyone inside the house immediately fled outside," said Baltimore County Police spokesman Ofc. Shawn Vinson.

Police found Nicklas in the backyard, and medics rushed her to Bayview Medical Center. Then, after a two-and-a-half hour barricade situation, officers went inside.

"When they entered the house, they went upstairs. They located the bodies of two people upstairs. The woman appeared to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, the man from a single gunshot wound," Vinson said.

Police say Terri Ann died at the scene and James died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"It does appear to be there was a domestic situation between the husband and wife for quite some time," said Vinson.

Neighbors spoke well of the family.

"They were nice. We never had no problem out of them," said John Gorrera, neighbor.

"They're a quiet family. I grew up with them because I live right down the street," said French.

They say they can't believe what happened.

"I'm shocked. I really am," said Don Williams, neighbor.

"It's breaking my heart," said Bonnie Gorrera, neighbor.

Police will now interview party guests and try to piece together the night.

The daughter is expected to survive her injuries. Once she recovers, police hope to learn more about the incident.