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'Heartbroken' Community Honors Andover Student Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide

More than 2,000 St. John's Preparatory community members came together to mourn the death of a sixth grade student who was tragically shot and killed at his Andover home this week. 

More than 2,000 mourners gathered together to remember Sebastian Robinson, who was shot and killed in his Andover home on Thursday, Feb. 9

More than 2,000 mourners gathered together to remember Sebastian Robinson, who was shot and killed in his Andover home on Thursday, Feb. 9

Photo Credit: St. John's Prep
St. John’s Prep Head of School Dr. Ed Hardiman delivers a call to prayer at a service for sixth-grade student Sebastian Robinson on Thursday evening, Feb. 9

St. John’s Prep Head of School Dr. Ed Hardiman delivers a call to prayer at a service for sixth-grade student Sebastian Robinson on Thursday evening, Feb. 9

Photo Credit: St. John's Prep
St. John’s Prep senior Gabriel Klein accompanies faculty during a hymnal at a prayer service for sixth-grade student Sebastian Robinson on Thursday evening, Feb. 9

St. John’s Prep senior Gabriel Klein accompanies faculty during a hymnal at a prayer service for sixth-grade student Sebastian Robinson on Thursday evening, Feb. 9

Photo Credit: St. John's Prep

A prayer service for Sebastian Robinson and his family was held at St. John's Mahoney Wellness Center on Thursday evening, Feb. 9. The service allowed school members to honor the 12-year-old's life and impact on the community as well as offer a safe space for people to cope.

"Sebastian was well-known in our middle school for his creativity, his passion for learning, and his presence as a kind and gentle soul," Head of School Ed Hardiman said in a statement.

"In the classroom, he was eager to ask why and how, and for more depth about the subject matter," Hardiman continued. "He was also an enthusiastic participant in our co-curricular programming, especially our string orchestra and service projects."

Sebastian was found shot to death inside his Andover home along with his 55-year-old Linda and 56-year-old father Andrew in the early morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 9, authorities said. 

Investigators determined that Andrew died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and labelled the incident as an apparent murder-suicide. 

“Obviously, we know the how; we’re trying to figure out the why right now, so we’re going to need some time to figure that out,” Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe said during a news conference Thursday morning. 

"Our community is close knit, and we are heartbroken," Hardiman said. "We also extend our prayers and condolences to all those who mourn the tragic loss of Sebastian and his parents. We extend our prayers to the first responders who were on site.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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