STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Detroit radio news anchor was killed in an attempted murder-suicide at his house in which four other people were injured last Friday, according to a report.
A 57-year-old man has since been arrested and charged in the incident, police said.
The victim, Jim Matthews, 57, worked as an overnight anchor for Detriot-based news station WWJ-AM.
Arthur Williamson is facing seven criminal charges, including first-degree murder, police told the Detroit Free Press. Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido disclosed that Williamson was apparently welcomed in the home before the incident.
According to the Daily Mail, the alleged killer knew Matthews’ partner.
Matthews’ 35-year-old girlfriend and his two children, ages 5 and 10, were hospitalized after the incident, according to the report. Williamson has also been hospitalized after he unsuccessfully tried to kill himself with a self-inflicted wound and a drug overdose, police said.
The woman was able to escape the house with the 5-year-old girl, and flagged down a driver to call police, the Detroit Free Press reported.
She was taken to the hospital in critical condition, while the girl was in stable condition with unspecified injuries, the outlet reported.
When police arrived, they found Matthews dead and the 10-year-old boy critically injured in a closet, where he was bound and suffering from blunt-force trauma, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The broadcaster was a devoted family man who was passionate about reporting the news, WWJ-AM wrote in a statement.
“He would often talk to co-workers about his children and his love for them and their adventures at school,” the radio station announcement said. “He was a consummate professional and was dedicated to WWJ and the broadcasting industry. He loved delivering the latest news to his listeners.”
“There have been many tears shed in our newsroom — our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s family and friends,” the station added.
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