BEDFORD — Kids were playing in their yards and people were out for walks in what appeared to be a scenic suburban Thursday evening in Bedford. Out of place was an officer sitting in a police cruiser parked in the driveway of 10 Washington St.

The officer was there due to a violent tragedy that unfolded several hours earlier. Authorities say a resident of the home, 24-year-old Jessica Cavallaro, shot both of her 56-year-old parents in the head as they sat in their SUV.

Cavallaro’s mother, Thelma Tatten, died at the scene of the shooting, while her father, Mark Cavallaro, was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

A Bedford Police report states officers were dispatched to Washington Street for a possible double homicide shortly after 9 a.m. Police said they found the two victims unresponsive inside an SUV “in the front lawn” of 11 Washington St.

The victim, later identified as Tatten, was slumped over in the driver’s seat, while Mark Cavallaro was in the front passenger seat, his head leaning against the passenger window. They were both covered in blood.

According to the report, police learned Jessica Cavallaro was living at 10 Washington St. with her boyfriend and his parents. The boyfriend’s father told police Jessica Cavallaro had returned unexpectedly from work that morning, after experiencing a panic attack. He told police she had gone to her bedroom for about 30 minutes, and when she emerged, she announced she was going out for breakfast with her parents.

Tatten and Mark Cavallaro, also Bedford residents, lived a little more than a mile away on Genetti Street.

According to the boyfriend’s father, Jessica Cavallaro left the home, and shortly later, came back inside and said, “I just shot my parents.” The police were quickly contacted.

Jessica Cavallaro was taken into custody by police without incident on Washington Street. The weapon used in the shooting was left inside the SUV. When asked where the gun came from, the boyfriend’s father said it was “likely from the safe in his home.” He advised police that his son owns firearms, and there should be at least four more inside the residence.

During the booking process, Jessica Cavallaro was described by police as quiet and calm, while “there were times she appeared to be trying to control herself from crying.”

“I observed two outbursts of her crying,” police said. “The first occasion was when I told her that she was under arrest for murder. The second occasion was when she called her boyfriend.”

Jessica Cavallaro was arraigned in Concord District Court at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday on two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, and carrying a firearm without a license.

Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Wiseman requested Jessica Cavallaro be held without bail, which was granted by Judge Lynn Brendemuehl.

Wiseman provided further insight into the shooting during the arraignment, noting the defendant shot her parents in the head as she sat in the backseat of the SUV.

Brendemuehl granted a request by Jessica Cavallaro’s attorney, Lorenzo Perez, to seek a doctor to carry out a psychiatric evaluation of his client.

“I’m going to need all the information I can get,” the defense attorney said following the arraignment.

Perez was asked by members of the press if Jessica Cavallaro provided any insight into why she pulled the trigger. Perez described his client as being in a “traumatized state,” adding, “I don’t think she said 12 words.”

“There’s a dearth of information here,” Perez said. “Heartbreaking, tragedy, but not a lot of information. My job and I think everybody else’s in the system is to collect as much information, and to try to understand this awful tragedy as soon as possible.”

Jessica Cavallaro is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial conference on Aug. 20.

Follow Aaron Curtis on X, formerly known as Twitter, @aselahcurtis