Superior police investigators were busy today trying to understand why an Army National Guard veteran apparently killed his pregnant wife, their young daughter and three dogs before taking his own life.

At a news conference, Superior Police Chief Floyd Peters called the deaths of Matthew Magdzas, 23; April Oles-Magdzas, 26; and Lila Magdzas, 13 months, an "incomprehensible tragedy."

"Suicides are always terrible," he said. "Homicides are always terrible. But having a pregnant mother involved and a young child is most difficult for us and the community to understand and comprehend.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, the friends and the loved ones of the deceased in this incident that are hurt and grieving."

The deaths were reported at 12:36 p.m. Wednesday when Oles-Magdzas' mother called 911 from the couple's home at 2011 North 22nd St., reporting that her daughter, son-in-law and grandchild were in the residence and believed that "he killed them all."

Police arrived at the home within two minutes. Emergency workers quickly determined that the three were beyond help, Peters said.

"At this time we are unable to determine the exact time of death, however it is suspected that the three likely died sometime on Tuesday afternoon," he said.

Family members last had contact with the victims around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Peters said. Autopsies were being conducted today. Police recovered a handgun suspected to be the murder weapon.

Police have not been able to determine a motive for the shootings. To Peters' knowledge, no note was found. Police had had no prior calls to the residence for any domestic incidents or disturbances. Additionally, Magdzas had no adult arrests with the Superior Police Department, Peters said.

The investigation at the scene came to a stop late Wednesday evening when officers discovered what appeared to be two pipe bombs in a backpack in the home. Officers evacuated the home until members of the 148th explosive ordinance disposal unit arrived this morning. The unit's members determined the objects probably were not explosive. However, in accordance with their procedures the devices were taken to a safe location and destroyed.

Wisconsin National Guard Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie says Magdzas enlisted in the Guard in 2004 and was assigned to the Superior-based 950th Engineer Company. He has been in a non-drilling status for about a year.

Magdzas volunteered to deploy overseas with a Guard artillery unit in 2006. The unit protected convoys moving between Kuwait and northern Iraq. His deployment ended in 2007.

Police are asking that anyone who may have information related to this incident to call the department's tip line at (715) 395-7468 or the sergeant of investigations at (715) 395-7652.