(Newswire.net — February 8, 2015) — Douglasville, GA – Neighbors report shooting in the streets after man kills his ex, children, then himself, according to Douglas County Sheriff department reports.
“We had multiple victims shot in the street,” Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Stan Copeland told local ABC affiliate WSB-TV 2.
Seven people were shot, five fatally, after a gunman opened fire on the street, shooting his ex-wife, his five children, then committing suicide.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Lt. Glenn Daniel told AP that the shooting took place in Douglasville, a little town in Georgia. Neighbors witnessed the shooting in broad daylight around 3pm Saturday.
Police said the victims’ ages ranged from toddlers to adults. After shooting his family members on the street, the gunman fired some rounds at surrounding homes. The shooter then turned the gun on himself.
“Some of [the victims] are siblings, so some [people] are related. We just don’t know who is who right now,” Chief Deputy Copeland added.
Police identified the victims as the former wife and children of the gunman. The motive for the shooting has not yet determined. WXIA-TV reported that neighbors confirmed the incident involved a family with five children.
Officials said two injured children survived the shooting, however, some of the injured died before reaching the hospital. The names of the victims will be released only after police notify the family members.
“When we came in, we kept hearing police car after police car. We saw helicopters. We said something is going on,” one witness told CBS46, describing a heavy police presence in the area.
“It’s just shocking. As a parent, you don’t want to think that a mother would lose her child…it’s just shocking all together and it’s sad.”
“I’ve been in law enforcement out here 20 years and this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said an officer emphasizing the serenity of the Douglasville.
Neighbors that knew the victims have left flowers at the scene.