A devastating tragedy has unfolded in Michigan after emergency crews responding to a house fire found eight members of the same family, including six children, dead. At least some of the dead inside the home had gunshot wounds.
Deputies with the Ottawa county sheriff’s office and firefighters from the Grand Haven fire department were dispatched at about 11.40am local time on Friday to a residence on Riverside Trail in Grand Haven Township.
Once crews entered the smoke-filled home to extinguish the fire, they made the grim discovery.
“Units made entry inside to battle the fire because there was smoke showing from the residence. When they got inside, they noticed that there were several people deceased inside the home,” Capt Jacob Sparks said at a press conference. “Some of the victims did have gunshot wounds to their bodies.”
Officials confirmed the victims were two adults and six children between the ages of five and 15. Their identities have not yet been released.
Autopsies are scheduled to be completed over the weekend, according to ABC News, as investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened.
Authorities said they are not currently looking for any suspects from outside the home, though Sparks stressed the investigation is ongoing.
“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions at this point,” he said.
Investigators with the Michigan state police’s arson team have joined the investigation. Officials believe the fire originated inside the residence, but the exact cause and point of origin have not yet been determined.
The home is located in Grand Haven Township, just outside the city of Grand Haven and about 20 miles (32km) south of Muskegon, Michigan.
According to the Ottawa county sheriff’s office, first responders arrived at a home shortly before noon after receiving reports of a fire and smoke. Firefighters discovered all eight victims after entering the residence to battle the flames.
The investigation remains active, and authorities said additional information is expected after the victims’ autopsies are completed.
