Authorities in Prince William County, Virginia, have identified the four family members found dead in a Woodbridge, Virginia, home this past weekend, shedding light on a tragedy that has left the local community shaken. Police now believe the incident was a triple murder-suicide carried out by 35-year-old Ziyi Lu.
The investigation began early Saturday morning, February 21, when officers arrived at a residence in the 14700 block of Birchdale Avenue.
Police were dispatched around 8 a.m. following a report of a stabbing. According to investigators, the initial call for help was made by Lu’s father-in-law, who discovered the scene. Upon entering the home, officers found four people deceased: two adult women, one man, and a young child.
On Monday, the Prince William County Police Department officially named the victims as 69-year-old Kegang Xie and her son, 40-year-old Danxiong Gao. The third victim was Gao and Lu’s 2-year-old child.
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While the adults were identified by name, authorities declined to release the toddler’s name out of respect for the child’s age. Lu, who was the wife of Gao and the mother of the child, was identified as the suspect. Investigators say she died from a self-inflicted injury after killing the others.
The scene was described by law enforcement as exceptionally grim. Police confirmed that all four individuals died from “knife-related injuries” and noted that a suspected murder weapon was recovered inside the house. Despite the recovery of the weapon, a clear motive for the killings remains elusive. Neighbors and local officials have expressed disbelief at the sudden violence in the quiet residential area.
Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham addressed the emotional weight of the case during a briefing with WTOP News, describing the scene as a “nightmare.”
He noted that while the department is working to piece together the events leading up to the stabbing, the sheer scale of the loss is difficult to process. “Just to see a family destroyed like this is horrific,” Newsham stated.
Detectives are continuing to interview those who knew the family to determine if there were any warning signs or domestic issues prior to Saturday morning. As of Monday afternoon, no further details regarding the circumstances or potential catalysts for the tragedy have been released. The medical examiner’s office is expected to provide official causes of death following autopsies.
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