An American family of eight, including five children, were found dead at a Utah home on Wednesday after being shot, according to authorities.
Police made the discovery while conducting a welfare check at a home in Enoch, a city of about 8,000 people 394km south of Salt Lake City.
Enoch officials said Michael Haight took his own life after killing his wife, mother-in-law and the couple's five children.
Officials said the children — three girls and two boys — ranged in age from four to 17. The other victims were Tausha Haight and her grandmother Gail Earl.
“At this time, we do not believe there is a threat to the public or that there are any suspects at large,” city officials said in a statement on Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement said President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are mourning with Enoch.
“Less than one month after we marked 10 years since the Sandy Hook tragedy, another mass shooting has claimed the lives of five more children in Enoch City,” she said.
Enoch City Manager Rob Dotson said the community was shocked and that the deceased were well known in the town.
“Many of us have served with them in church, in the community and gone to school with these individuals,” Mr Dotson said in a video statement Wednesday night.
“This community at this time is hurting. They’re feeling loss, they’re feeling pain and they have a lot of questions.”
He also noted that officials planned on releasing more information as it becomes available and as the police investigation progresses.
“We won’t know the mindsets, the thoughts of the individuals who experienced this tragedy, but we all can pray that their families and the neighbours and all will come to an understanding of what happened in this place, probably in a day or two, or maybe longer,” said Mr Dotson, choking up at one point.
He said that welfare checks by the police are routinely made when people are not seen for a long period of time.
The five children attended schools in the Iron County School District, officials said in a letter sent to parents.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox offered condolences in a tweet on Wednesday night.
New York subway shooting — in pictures
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Police circulated images of Frank R James, 62, after the mass shooting in Brooklyn, New York. EPA -
Emergency crews at the entrance to the 36th Street subway station in Brooklyn, after the rush-hour shooting on Tuesday. AP -
Police and fire officials at the scene in New York. EPA -
Several people were shot, with wounded commuters left bleeding on the platform. EPA -
At least 13 people were injured. AP -
Officers with dogs trained to sniff out explosives were among the police at the scene. AP -
Sniffer dogs at the station. AP -
Police and fire crews at the scene. EPA -
The fire department said 13 people were injured, while police said at least five had been shot. AFP -
Heavily armed police at the cordoned-off station. Getty -
Onlookers stand behind the cordon. Getty -
Rush-hour commuters were caught up in the incident. AFP -
Bomb disposal experts arrive at the station. EPA -
Emergency services vehicles outside the scene of the shooting. AP -
Police and rescue workers crowd the street outside the station after the shooting. AFP -
New York commuters wait for a subway train after the shooting. Reuters -
A police officer and dog check a subway station in Manhattan after the Brooklyn incident. Reuters -
Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers carry out checks in Manhattan. Reuters -
Stations throughout the network were on alert. Reuters -
Police and security officers on patrol at Manhattan's 42nd Street station. Reuters -
Heavily armed police at the scene of the shooting in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighbourhood. AFP -
Emergency workers at the scene of the shooting. EPA
