Children will react to any death in accordance with their age and stage of development. Click here to read more about how this affects their reaction.
As with any death, people will experience grief in their own time their own way and while there may be similarities, a death that has been sudden and violent can mean that these feelings are experienced more intensely.  
Below are some common reactions experienced by those who have been bereaved by murder or manslaughter. These feelings are not definitive and may not be experienced by everyone and it is unlikely that very young children will experience these reactions.

numbness, shock and disbelief

By its very nature, death by murder or manslaughter is unexpected and may be violent. Any death that comes as a shock can take a long time to be fully processed and accepted as reality. This can be particularly difficult for children who may not know the details of the death. However, the feeling of numbness at the beginning can often protect from feelings which may seem overpowering and may in fact help in the early days when there is a lot to cope with.

guilt

It is common after someone has died by murder or manslaughter for family and friends to question whether there was something they could have said or done that might have prevented the death from happening. For example, some might think that if they had insisted on their loved one staying in with them  instead of going out, it may have been avoided. This can lead to feelings of guilt which can add to the already immensely painful feelings of grief. 

fear

When someone has died by murder or manslaughter it can inevitably make the world seem a much scarier place for their loved ones. This fear can lead to people not wanting to leave the house or do normal activities. This can be particularly difficult in cases where the perpetrator  has not yet been found. 

blame and vengeance

With any death, it can be common to experience the need to blame someone or something. In cases where someone has died by murder or manslaughter there will be a particular person(s), or institution, who will be held responsible for the death, and therefore the feelings of blame may be intensified. In such cases, blame can lead to feelings and expressions of vengeance, where the bereaved family or friends wish ill on the perpetrator as a way of finding justice for the deceased.