![](../images/peterson-albert/albert-and-kathleen-peterson.jpg)
Albert Peterson, left, shot dead his wife Kathleen, right, and two
sons hours after going to church.
The couple is pictured on January 4, 2010.
![](../images/peterson-albert/albert-peterson-crime-scene.jpg)
Each of the deceased died of gunshot wounds to the upper body.
![](../images/peterson-albert/albert-peterson-crime-scene-1.jpg)
The preliminary police investigation indicates that Albert Peterson
killed his wife and their children
before taking his own life.
![](../images/peterson-albert/albert-peterson-crime-scene-2.jpg)
The family, who were active in their church, had lived in the home
since it was built 28 years ago.
The victims
![](../images/peterson-albert/kathleen-peterson.jpg)
Mrs Peterson worked at Blackbird Technologies, a company that
specializes in defense, law enforcement
and intelligence work.
![](../images/peterson-albert/christopher-peterson.jpg)
Christopher, 13, right was an eighth grader at Rachel Carson Middle
School and Matthew, 16, left, was
a sophomore at Westfield High School. Both were avid soccer players
and active at their church.
![](../images/peterson-albert/chris-and-matthew-peterson.jpg)
Young: Mathew, left, and Christopher, right, pose for a photograph
at an earlier date.
Albert Peterson biography