Original: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/galesburg-1361990-suicide-suspected.html
NEAR GALESBURG, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - New information is emerging about a suspected murder-suicide near Galesburg.
Two people are dead, a man and a teenage girl. Detectives are looking into reports that two teenage girls had been hired by Nicholas Arbutina on Miller Drive to do some cleaning.
The two teens, 16-year-old Tanika Heard, and 15-year-old Brianna Washington, were visiting the home.
67-year-old Nicholas Arbutina is believed to have pulled a gun on the girls, shooting and killing Tanika Heard with a shotgun.
Brianna Washington was also shot, but managed to take off running down the road, going to the gas station complex at Miller and 35th Street for help.
Newschannel 3 cameras were there to capture the police presence that rushed into the area around 7:00 Wednesday night.
Nicholas Arbutina ultimately shot and killed himself.
Investigators say he lived alone at the home on Miller Drive.
The folks at the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department just released the name of that shooter late Thursday afternoon.
Newschannel 3 also spoke to the father of the 16-year-old girl who was killed. He says his daughter had been working for the shooter for about a year, doing chores at the house.
On Thursday, the father described his daughter as a beautiful, outgoing girl. Tanika Heard had just turned 16. Her 15-year-old foster sister, Brianna Washington, was her best friend.
The pair was at the house on Miller Drive Wednesday evening when the violence started.
Tanika was shot dead in the driveway of the home, and when Brianna took off running, her foster dad says she was shot in the back as she headed for the gas station complex to get help.
Police rushed to the scene, finding Tanika outside the house, along with the shooter.
67-year-old Nicholas Arbutina was a caretaker living in a house next to the main home on the Miller Drive property.
"We're still trying to put it all together," said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller, "knowing they were familiar with each other, the people at the house had all been there before."
Tanika's father says the teenage girls had been doing chores for Arbutina for about a year. The only witness to the scene is Brianna, who is recovering in the hospital after being shot in the torso.
Tanika's father says Brianna told him that Arbutina tried to sexually assault one of the girls, and when Tanika hit him, he pulled a gun.
Newschannel 3 looked into Arbutina's criminal history, and back in 2004 he pleaded guilty to soliciting a prostitute. Investigators say Arbutina's family lives out of the area.
Investigators say they are looking into the allegations of assault, but have not confirmed anything at this point.
Newschannel 3 has been told that funeral arrangements for Tanika Heard are being handled by Langeland Funeral Homes.
Brianna Washington is currently in the hospital being treated for a one gunshot wound to the torso, she is listed as being in stable condition. Newschannel 3 has been told that she was able to talk to detectives and may be the one with the answers as to what exactly occurred.
Interestingly enough, I found this article: On day of victim's funeral, an alleged stalking victim comes forward. Apparently this man had a habit of trying to get young girls to work for him; and police confirmed that there may be others
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