Six people including three children are dead after a shooting and fire at a property in Marion County, Tennessee last night.
Authorities are investigating what is believed to be a murder-suicide after the horror incident in the town of Sequatchie. The case has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
The shooter is believed to be among the dead and there is no believed threat to the community
The TBI said a seventh person suffered gunshot wounds and was hospitalised.
“We have six people confirmed dead. They have been removed from the scene and they have been taken to Nashville for an autopsy.” Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said. “ The scene has been turned over to the TBI.”
Burnett said the crime scene was one of the most horrific things he had witnessed in his 43 years in law enforcement.
“This is one of the worst things I’ve seen. You hear about these things but this is one of the worst I’ve been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer,” he said.
At least two of the victims died from smoke inhalation, but it is not clear how many people were shot.
“It’s a domestic situation, evidently that has been ongoing for a pretty good while,” Burnett said.
Police, responding to reports of a shooting, arrived to find the residence on fire.
Fire crews from surrounding areas responded and were able to put the flames out.
Neighbour Sylvia Cooper told NewsChannel 9: "I heard gunshots and breaking glass... I heard five shots."
Sylvia said she heard the gunshots around 8pm last night.
