Six Riviera Beach family members dead in apparent murder-suicide

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - Six members of the same family have been killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

Riviera Beach Police were called to the scene at 1225 West 30th Street just before 2:00 a.m.

When they got there they saw a Patrick Dell standing outside with a gun. As officers approached, the Dell aimed the gun at himself and pulled the trigger. He was dead at the scene.

Inside the home investigators found five other people dead, described as all members of the same family. Four of the dead victims were children, a fifth Natasha Whyte-Dell the estranged wife of Dell who killed himself in front of officers.

Riviera Beach Police say that five of the children were Dell's step children and two were the biological children of he and his wife.

A 15-year-old boy was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center with a gunshot wound in the neck. The two biological children children were unharmed and taken away.

Police have identified the victims as 11 year old Javon Nelson, 10 year old Daniel Barnett (both attended Bethune Elementary School); 14 year old Bryan Barnett (Palm Beach Gardens High School); and 13 year year old Diane Barnett (Howell Watkins Middle School.

 Police Chief Clarence Williams stated in a press release that  "This is  sad day  for Riviera Beach". The Police Chief also offered his condolences to the families involved.

A check of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's booking blotter indicates that Patrick Dell was arrested on December 20th, 2009 for domestic assault.