A Prince William County man shot the owner of a day care center Monday while children played downstairs, then turned the gun on himself, police said.
The killings at the home-based day care in Dale City appeared to be a murder-suicide. The children, including the owner’s 12-year-old daughter, were downstairs in a different part of the residence when the shots rang out, police said.
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After she heard the gunshots, the daughter herded the younger children into a bathroom and called 911, Prince William Police Officer Erika Hernandez said. None of the children were injured.
Police identified the deceased as Tonitha Marie White, the 39-year-old owner of Toni’s B*A*S*E day car center, and Richard Anthony Nichols, 49. Police said White and Nichols knew each other but officers were still investigating the extent of their relationship. White once lived next door to Nichols in the 7700 block of Rockcliff Lane in Dale City, according to public records.
Police executed search warrants Monday at White’s former home, where her husband George White still lives. Tonitha White moved out of that residence about a year ago when the couple separated, according to police and neighbors.
George White was taken to the police station for questioning, police said.
Topher Desaliza, 28, who lived four houses from the site of the shooting, said police knocked on his door early Monday and told his family to remain inside. Dozens of police cars had swooped into the neighborhood and helicopters could be heard flying overhead, he said.
“We’ve never had anything like this happen here. It’s pretty intense,” said Desaliza, who grew up in the quiet suburban neighborhood. “The trauma that her daughter is going to have to overcome is unbelievable.”
Police said Nichols knocked on the door at 5612 Roundtree Drive around 7 a.m., looking for White. The daughter, who knew Nichols, let him in and went to help care for the children downstairs, Hernandez said.
When she heard the gunshots, the girl gathered the other children and called 911. Hernandez said she didn’t know whether the daughter went upstairs to investigate or stayed downstairs with the children.
Police arrived to find the bodies of White and Nichols on the first floor.
The children were taken to a police station and their parents were contacted, police said.
Staff writer Freeman Klopott contributed to this report.
