Seven-year-old Clark Peterson was killed by his father, 39-year-old Matthew Peterson, in a murder-suicide involving gun violence at a residence on the 1200 block of Pomona Street in Crockett, California, on June 17, 2022. Deputies were called to the scene about 8:30 p.m. after receiving reports that two people were dead inside, and both appeared to have been there for several hours. Clark's parents, Addi Murray and Matthew Peterson, were divorced, and court documents revealed a prior restraining order filed by the mother that had been dismissed by agreement, as well as a custody stipulation requiring the father to take weekly drug tests. The mother stated that multiple systems had failed her and her son.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The Gun Memorial page explicitly states the child was "Lost to gun violence on June 17, 2022." The East Bay Times article references "the shooting" when describing what may have spurred the incident. The sheriff's office called the case a murder-suicide involving a shooting.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The child was killed by gunfire in a murder-suicide. The East Bay Times article references "the shooting" and the Gun Memorial page states the child was "Lost to gun violence on June 17, 2022." This constitutes an inflicted injury (gunshot).
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Multiple sources explicitly describe this as a murder-suicide. The East Bay Times states: "a 7-year-old boy who died last week in what authorities were calling a murder-suicide." The Mercury News reports: "The Contra Costa Sheriff's Office called the case a murder-suicide."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
The Mercury News article explicitly identifies Matthew Peterson as Clark's father: "Clark and his father, 39-year-old Matthew Peterson, were found dead about 8:30 p.m. June 17." The case was ruled a murder-suicide, with Matthew Peterson as the perpetrator.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Mercury News article states: "Court documents obtained Friday showed Murray and Peterson had agreed to dismiss a restraining order she'd filed against him Feb. 28." The filing of a restraining order by the mother against the father strongly implies domestic violence in the household.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Mercury News article states: "Peterson also had agreed to take weekly drug tests as part of a stipulation to share custody of Clark." The requirement for weekly drug testing as a custody condition strongly implies substance use concerns by the father/caregiver.
Notable Details
The Mercury News article contains a significant statement from the child's mother, Addi Murray, who said: "I tried so many times to get help for things going on in my life. It's really, really hard, because I just feel like a lot of systems failed him and failed me. Now my child is dead." This suggests potential systemic failures in protecting the child despite the mother's attempts to seek help. Additionally, court documents showed a restraining order had been filed against the father but was later dismissed by agreement, and the father had been required to take weekly drug tests as part of a custody stipulation — indicating known risk factors (substance use, potential domestic violence) that existed prior to the murder-suicide but may not have been adequately addressed by the systems involved.
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