CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WVEC) -- Hundreds of people gathered at Temple Baptist Church of Chesapeake Saturday to remember members of the Dooley Family who died earlier this week in a case of murder-suicide.
Police say 26-year-old Cameron Dooley shot and killed his parents, two siblings, and paternal grandmother, then killed himself.
Officers found his body inside his grandmother's home on George Washington Highway North along with the bodies of Todd (father), Lori (mother), Brooke (sister), and Doris (grandmother) Dooley after the 26-year-old barricaded himself inside the house Wednesday. After hours of trying to negotiate with him, police went into the home early Thursday morning.
Prior to that, officers found his brother, Landon, dead inside their parents' home on Wildwood Road.
"While I do not have the words to express the depth of our sorrow, we are encouraged by the outpouring of love and support of our family, friends, and community," Michael Dooley, Todd's brother said Saturday.
Relatives told 13News Now that 26-year-old Cameron Dooley struggled with mental illness for most of his life but never was a violent person.
He had been living in his grandmother's home, helping to take care of 74-year-old Doris. Her health continued to decline, and the Dooleys made the decision to move her to North Carolina. That meant Cameron would have to move out of her home on George Washington Highway North.
The family had a meeting this week to tell him. Relatives believe the news caused something inside him to snap, leading to violence that left Cameron and his five family members dead.
The Dooleys were well known in Deep Creek. They were longtime members of Temple Baptist Church of Chesapeake where Cameron's paternal grandfather, Allen, was pastor for many years. Cameron's father, Todd, recently retired from Chesapeake Police Department.
The following arrangements have been made in honor of the Dooley family:
- Family Visitation - Sunday Jan. 31, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Location: Temple Baptist Church; 1322 N. George Washington Highway, Chesapeake, Va. (visitation with family, no caskets will be present)
- Memorial Service - Monday Feb. 1, 7 p.m
- Event for community, church members and public safety family to remember the Dooley family
- Location: Deep Creek Baptist Church; 250 Mill Creek Parkway, Chesapeake, Va.
- A free shuttle service will be provided from Deep Creek High (2900 Margaret Booker Drive) to Deep Creek Baptist Church beginning at 5:30 p.m. This service will be provided by the Chesapeake Fire Department and community faith based groups. The transportation provided will not be handicap accessible.
