City council staff member killed in apparent murder-suicide

HOLMESBURG (WTXF) - Philadelphia police are investigating a barricade situation that ended in an apparent murder-suicide early Friday morning in a Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood.

SWAT Teams descended on the 4000 block of Meridian Street in Holmesburg after 8am Friday morning after investigators say 37-year-old Linda Rios Neuby was shot several times in a bathroom before her husband, 43-year-old Haywood Neuby turned the gun on himself.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene around 8:40 a.m.

Neighbor Jimmy McGreggor has spent the day in pure disbelief after finding out about the situation.

"They were both nice. People you wouldn't even expect that from," he said.

Cops say the couple's twin 4-year-old girls were in the home with their babysitter who ran out right after hearing the gunfire.

"Terrible tragedy. I can't fathom what would murder the mother of their children," said Police Captain John Ryan.

Rios Neuby's sudden and tragic death has rocked Philadelphia City Hall where officials say she was the director of Human Resources for City Council.

Meantime neighbors say they are thinking of the two girls left behind.

"Just hope for the best for the girls," said McGreggor.

Council president Darrell Clarke issued a statement regarding Rios' death Friday afternoon.

"Words cannot describe the heartbreak I feel today. Linda Rios was more than a dedicated public servant; she was a beloved colleague and friend to so many in City Council, she was a loving mother to two little girls, she was a counselor in whom everyone could confide. I am so sad and angry that she died this way. I will have more to say in the future about the role of guns in this tragedy, and the scourge of domestic violence, but for now I join my colleagues and all City Council staff in mourning this tremendous loss. It will take some time, but I'm going to try to remember Linda at her happiest -- her beautiful smile and infectious joy as she carried those beautiful twins four years ago, never slowing her pace at work until nature forced her to do so. City Council is a family. We're going to make sure Linda's daughters know this, and that they have every opportunity to grow into the healthy, cherished adults Linda dreamed they would be. To every person out there who is suffering in a violent or abusive relationship, please seek help from someone you trust. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger, or call the Women Against Abuse hotline at 1-866-723-3014 at any hour for free, confidential counseling."

The investigation is ongoing.