Students grieve the murder of two former classmates

Friends and classmates of two teenage children who grew up in Santa Barbara are in mourning. Authorities say fourteen year old Macaila Marshall and her seventeen-year old brother Alex were shot and killed by their own father, who then turned the gun on himself.

The tragic turn of events unfolded on Saturday when Sheriff’s in Calaveras County, in northern California, discovered the body of 54-year old Phillip Marshall on the floor of his home. Sheriff’s officials say the father shot his two children while they were sleeping, shot the family dog, and then turned the gun on himself.

Macaila did part of her schooling in Santa Barbara. She attended La Colina Jr. High for 7th and part of 8th grade just a couple years ago, before her and her family moved up north. Alex did part of his schooling at San Marcos High, where he was a football player and a good student.

The burning question is why? Students who knew the family say they remember them to be close. The mother was traveling out of the country at the time. Authorities have not found a motive

Students on a number of campuses are remembering the lives lost. San Marcos students are working on putting together a memorial, and possibly planting a tree in their name.

NewsChannel 3 Reporter Shirin Rajaee has our full report.