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Suspicious death of 6-year-old girl under investigation in Fitchburg

FITCHBURG, Mass. - Massachusetts State Police troopers are investigating the suspicious death of a young girl in Fitchburg.

According to the Worcester County District Attorney, police were called to 139 Stoneybrook Road in Fitchburg just before noon on Tuesday.

When they arrived, the found an injured young boy and an unresponsive young girl.

The two children - who are siblings - were taken to the hospital where the 6-year-old girl was pronounced dead. The 9-year-old boy was transferred to Worcester Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The DA says the girl's death is suspicious and the investigation is extremely active.

The neighborhood was placed in lockdown late into Tuesday evening as police continued with their investigation.

"The Department of Children and Families received a report of this tragic situation and is assisting law enforcement in this active investigation," a DCF spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

The medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of her death.

"It's way too early to speculate on anything that's happening up the street, however, Fitchburg Police Department is working together with State Police Detective Unit, we are investigating a suspicious death at this point," said Martineau.

The police chief says this was not random and the public is not in danger.

No additional information was released.

Neighbors were shocked to learn about what happened, and some said they witnessed a man in a white pickup truck being questioned - and that truck was later towed to the police station.

"There were ambulances and we counted 12 police cars, the undercover cops, the state police and the K9‘s and about a half hour after that there were the helicopters," said Jim Harper, a neighbor. “Especially when there’s a child involved it’s really bad, you never know what is going to happen.”

According to some neighbors, the family moved in about a year ago and was relatively new to the area.

“They seemed like a good family – I’ve only met them once but there were never any issues with them they just seemed like everyone else.," said Doug Munroe, a neighbor.

“They seemed like a normal family, never really spoke to them just said hi when they passed by and stuff like that," said Tina Ramirez, a neighbor.

Sky25 flew over the Stoneybrook Road home Tuesday afternoon and saw multiple crews move over to the Sizer School. The police chief said the police response at the school nearby was due to threats made on Monday toward the school.

A Sizer School representative said police responded to the school after an unconfirmed report of a threat. The school was searched and it was determined the threat was unsubstantiated. School officials say at no time was any member of the Sizer community in any danger.

Police are investigating where the original threat came from and the chief says the two incidents are not related.

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