A former Lincoln family is mourning two children and praying for a third after their oldest son apparently fatally stabbed his little brother and sister before turning the knife on his father.
Malik Vincent Murphy, 19, is accused of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his siblings, 5-year-old Sophia and 7-year-old Noah, early Tuesday at their home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Â
The father, Jefferson "Vinnie" Murphy, a former banquet manager at the Cornhusker Marriott hotel, suffered neck injuries but was released from the hospital later Tuesday.
The mother, Melissa (Mason) Murphy, was uninjured, as were the couple's two other children, 12-year-old Hannah and 14-year-old Elijah.
"Obviously, the family is in a lot of grief," said Eddie Brown, a Lincoln businessman and longtime friend of Melissa Murphy and her family. "They love their son. They love their son Malik. They don't know what possessed him to do this other than him looking for answers in life and, you know, the devil."
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Malik Murphy is in jail, being held without bond. He appeared in court by video Wednesday wearing handcuffs.
He has struggled with mental health issues, including depression, since at least age 14, Brown said Thursday.
Early Tuesday, Murphy's father woke up when he heard screaming in the basement of the family home, and was attacked by his son when he entered the basement, according to local media reports.
He restrained his son until police arrived. Their mother and police tried to save the children, who later died at a hospital.
Malik Murphy had talked about killing before, his father told investigators. He had also run away from home more than once, and has received psychiatric treatment in Lincoln as well as in Colorado.
In March, he was arrested in Illinois for setting fire to his parents' SUV, then standing in a crowd of onlookers and watching it burn, Effingham, Illinois, Police Chief Jeff Fuesting told the Denver Post.
"He wasn't a bad kid," Brown said Thursday. "He needed more help."
Brown said he did not know whether the couple has seen their oldest son since the incident.
A funeral for Noah and Sophia is planned for Monday morning, he said. An Brown launched after the killings has already raised about $15,000 to help the family with expenses, which will probably include moving to a new home.
The Murphys attended Lincoln City Church, near U.S. 77 and Old Cheney Road, until they moved to Colorado Springs, where Vinnie Murphy grew up, almost three years ago.
Pastors Solo and Sarah Mwania drove to Colorado this week to be with the family. Sarah has helped clean the house, Brown said, and Solo helped Vinnie Murphy remove the children's furniture and other items from the home.
"You don't want those memories," Brown said.
Malik Murphy "turned away from God" many years ago, Brown said, something his family believes contributed to his troubles.
"They have a strong belief in the good Lord above."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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On Twitter @zachami.