Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

A family says their loved one was killed for trying to save a young girl.

Michael Cassel was shot multiple times at his home on Red Oak Street in Charleston Sunday night. Charleston Police say 34-year-old Patrick Price forced his way into the home, killed Cassel and then turned the gun on himself.

"I saw my husband and Mr. Price on the floor and I grabbed my baby and ran," Cassel's wife, Erin Cassel said.

She, her child and other family members in the house made it out safely. She says Price is not a stranger. She says Price's daughter is friends with her daughter and that Price's daughter told her and her husband that her father was abusing her. Erin says her husband, Michael, took that information to police. Charleston police confirm they opened an investigation into Price for the alleged abuse in December and say the investigation was active.

Erin says her husband was killed for trying to help a young girl in need.

"My husband died a hero because he saved this little girl's life and he saved our lives, we would have been dead," Erin Cassel said.

She says she is now worried about Price's daughter, saying she doesn't want her to blame herself and wants the girl to come live with them.

"Now we're praying and hoping that we get the little girl and get to have her here with us and we know that she is safe and that my husband didn't die in vain," Erin Cassel said.

The family says the little girl was living with Price alone and had recently been removed from his home by CPS. Child Protective Services won't comment on her status.

Cassel leaves behind several children.

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A home invasion in Charleston left two men dead, the homeowner and the suspect.

Charleston police said Patrick Price, 34, forced his way inside Michael Cassel's home on Red Oak Street Sunday night and shot Cassel multiple times and then took his own life.

Cassel's wife, Erin Cassel, said her husband died a hero. She said her husband was trying to help Price's daughter. Erin said the girl came to the Cassel family and told them that her father was abusing her; the girl is friends with the Cassel's daughter. Michael Cassel took those allegations to authorities, Erin said. Charleston police confirm they had opened a child abuse case against Price in December and were actively investigating the allegations.

Erin said Price's daughter had stayed with them for a while and said she remains worried for the little girl and doesn't want her to think this is her fault. Erin said she has been in contact with Child Protective Services in hopes of gaining custody of her.

Eyewitness News will have more on this story tonight at 6.

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The names of the two men who died after an apparent home invasion on Charleston's West Side Sunday, have been released.

Charleston police said Patrick Price, 34, forced his way inside a home in the 900 block of Red Oak Street about 10 p.m. Sunday. Police said once Price was inside, he killed the homeowner, 36-year-old Michael Cassel. Cassel was shot several times.

Police said Price then turned the gun on himself. Cassel's wife and child were also inside the home at the time of the incident, but they were able to get out of the house when Price began firing shots. They were not injured and managed to call police.

Investigators said the two men were acquainted with one another, but are not releasing additional information.

"Definitely not random. The suspect in this case specifically targeted the victim for what we believe was a specific purpose," said Lt. Stever Cooper with the Charleston Police Department. "The investigation is still on going despite the fact that the suspect is dead, some things we want to piece together."

Police said they have had no troubles at the home where the deadly encounter took place. Keep checking wchstv.com for updates.

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Two people are dead from a shooting at a home at 926 Red Oak Street on Charleston's West Side Sunday night.

Police said the shooting appears to be a murder-suicide, but they add it does not appear to be domestic related. The suspect was found at the scene and is dead. The shooting happened just before 10 p.m.

Police remain on the scene collecting evidence and have blocked off the area.

Eyewitness News has a crew on the scene. Stay tuned for further updates.

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