A SWAT team discovered six dead bodies, including two children, in a South Carolina home on Tuesday in what police believe is a murder-suicide involving members of a family.
Authorities found the bodies of four adults and two children Tuesday night, including the body of the man they believe called police. The ages of the dead ranged from 9 years old to early 50s, although it was not immediately revealed how they were killed. A preliminary investigation indicates the deaths were related to "a domestic-related incident," said Greenwood County Sheriff's Office spokesman John Long according to CBS News.
Officers rushed to the scene after the man dialed 911 around 6 p.m. and said he was thinking of hurting himself, Long said. Long said that while police were on their way, one of the man's neighbors called 911 saying four children from that address had arrived at her house and told her a shot had been fired. He said the children remained at her house.
According to CBS affiliate WLTX, radio dispatches indicate the suspect entered the home and tied up the alleged victims.
When officers arrived, the SWAT team tried to encourage the caller to come out, but after about an hour and "several unsuccessful attempts" by officers, the SWAT team entered the home and discovered the bodies.
"They tried to talk him out and they couldn't get anybody out and that's when the SWAT team went in" about an hour after deputies arrived, Long said reports Reuters.
Investigators in Greenwood County, where the shootings took place, did not immediately release the identity of the shooter, nor have authorities released the names of the dead or the ages of the children.