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CULVER – Investigators are being tight-lipped about what happened and why after a 16-year-old and 44-year-old were found dead in a Culver home.
It happened in the 400 block of Madison Street -- that's in the town's downtown area.
Police tell us they were called to the home just before 11 p.m. Wednesday.
According to Culver Police Chief Wayne Bean, a woman came home to find her husband – 44-year-old Michael Price of Culver – and a close family friend – 16-year-old Stephen Suthard of Culver – dead inside the house.
Bean says there were no signs of forcible entry on the home.
The two weren't blood relatives, but friends who knew the 16-year-old well say the boy's family is very close with the Price family.
We know police found the gun they believe was used in the shootings – inside the home. But investigators won't say whether they have a suspect or if this was a double murder or a murder-suicide.
"When I first went to school, people were saying he died and I was like, 'No, I know he didn't. It couldn't have been him,’" said Suthard’s friend, Robert Warren.
But 15-year-old Warren soon discovered those rumors were true.
"Then the school called us all to the auditorium and told us,” Warren said. “I didn't know what to think. I was really tore up."
"I knew him for most of my life, and he was like a brother to me,” said Nick Brady. “It's pretty sad."
Suthard was a sophomore at Culver Community High School – where many students chose to go home early Thursday.
Others met with grief counselors.
"In a small town such as culver, everyone knows everyone and we're a small family,” said Principal Albert Hanselman.
This small town of about 1,300 is now trying to come to grips with what happened.
"This doesn't happen in Culver,” said Lisa Mahler, who lives across the street. “You keep your doors unlocked."
Police say there's no reason for anyone here to worry about their safety. And the biggest questions most people have now are why? And what happens next?
Those questions likely won't be answered before Monday. That's when autopsies on both bodies will happen in Mishawaka. We're told the reason for the delay is because the forensic pathologist is out of town right now and investigators want him to be there for the autopsies. That's also when the coroner will rule exactly how the two died.
We asked the police chief if officers had been called to the home before and he said the only other time they went there was when the homeowner -- Mike Price -- shot an intruder during a burglary.
That was years ago -- and police insist it has nothing to do with this investigation.