Five people were killed in a shooting that, according to authorities, appears to be a murder-suicide in a home in Douglas, Georgia, on Friday.
The incident involved family members who lived in the home in Douglas, a city in southern Georgia.
At a press conference on Saturday, Douglas Police Chief Brannen Pruette said that officers responded to reports of an active shooter on Friday. One of the victims made the initial call to emergency services.
Officers who arrived at the scene found four deceased adults inside the house. A fifth person was transported to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Details of how the tragedy unfolded remain unclear, including who opened fire.
Several hours before the fatal shooting, a female victim called the police to complain that her husband was 'killing' her with his smoking. She was taken to a local medical centre by emergency services. Police did not provide further information, citing an ongoing investigation.
'We recognise the profound impact this loss has on those closest to the victims in our community. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of the family and allow the family the time and space they need to grieve,' said Pruette.
Charlie Davis, the city manager of Douglas, said that this was the second murder-suicide in the area in three months. 'Domestic violence knows no race. It knows no religion. It knows no geographic location,' Davis said. 'We urge everyone to refrain from speculation and allow the family the space, dignity and compassion they deserve at this time.'
In a similar incident, a man in Pennsylvania fatally shot several family members on Friday, before killing himself.
