Lehigh County, PA – Authorities have identified the woman involved in an armed break-in that led to a fatal shooting early Thursday morning in Upper Saucon Township.
Police say the suspect, Jessica Gracia, forcibly entered a home on West Hopewell Road while armed with a firearm and opened fire before taking her own life.
Investigators have since uncovered that Gracia was the owner of a 24/7 daycare facility, Olivia’s Family Daycare, which operated out of a home on Washington Avenue in Northampton Borough.
According to Northampton County property records, she had purchased the residence in the 1900 block of Washington Avenue on New Year’s Eve.
Neighbors confirmed that the home had recently been on the market and was sold, with one resident stating they only became aware of the daycare’s presence two weeks ago after observing children being dropped off and picked up by adults.
A woman who previously owned the Washington Avenue home revealed that Gracia had disclosed running a business from the residence.
At the time of the closing sale, Gracia was also a single parent to her 19-month-old daughter.
Despite these developments, authorities have yet to confirm a motive behind the violent incident.
It remains unclear why Gracia, a daycare owner and mother, would break into the home while armed.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have not released any additional details regarding potential connections between Gracia and the residents of the targeted home.