A man is suspected of shooting dead three female members of his own family before turning the gun on himself in Horden, County Durham, on a New Year’s Day rampage, police said on Monday.
Police discovered the bodies of the man, 40, and three women at a house after members of the public reported hearing shots in the small town late Sunday, Associated Press reports.
A shotgun was found next to the man’s body, police said, adding they were not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the killings. They said the man held a firearms licence and may have been a member of a gun club.
It is thought the family had been out and that the drama unfolded in a matter of seconds on their return to the house.
A 19-year-old woman escaped with only minor injuries by hauling herself through an upstairs window. A male also survived the attack and is being treated as a significant witness, according to police.
“This is a tragic event. We have four people who died late last night and our thoughts and feelings are with their family and friends at this moment,” Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks from Durham Constabulary told a press conference.
“I would like to reassure our communities that the police are in control of this incident.”
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