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US 14-year-old admits killing five family members Alabama shootings: Boy, 14, admits killing five family members
(about 16 hours later)
A 14-year-old boy in Alabama has confessed to killing five members of his own family, US police say. A 14-year-old boy in Alabama has been charged with murder after confessing to killing five members of his own family, US police say.
Those killed were the boy's father, stepmother and siblings, local media report. Three were found dead at the scene while the other two died in hospital. The boy is accused of killing three siblings, aged six months, five and six, as well as his father John Sisk, 38, and stepmother Mary Sisk, 35.
Police say the boy, who has not been named, is co-operating with officials. He is being charged as a juvenile but could face being tried as an adult.
There is no indication yet on any motive nor how he obtained the weapon used, a 9mm handgun. The shooting happened late on Monday in the small town of Elkmont in northern Alabama.
The shooting happened late on Monday in the town of Elkmont. According to investigators, the boy initially called police to say he had heard gunfire coming from his family home and met officers outside the property.
According to investigators, the boy initially called police to say he had heard gunfire coming from his family home.
He later confessed to the attack, the Limestone County Sheriff's Department said.He later confessed to the attack, the Limestone County Sheriff's Department said.
The victims have been named as John Sisk, 38; Mary Sisk, 36, and three siblings who were five, six, and six months old. "Upon being confronted with some of the inconsistencies, he did admit to shooting the five family members. All five were family members and all five lived in the residence," spokesman Stephen Young said.
Mary Sisk, originally of New Orleans, was a special education teacher for the Huntsville City schools district, according to a biography of her on the Mountain Gap schools website. School officials there say they are providing mental health counsellors to students at the local school.
School officials there say they are providing mental health counsellors to students at the school.
Gun violence is common in the US - according to one monitoring site there have been almost 300 mass shootings this year alone.Gun violence is common in the US - according to one monitoring site there have been almost 300 mass shootings this year alone.
Seven people were killed at the weekend in a series of random shootings in Texas, with the suspect identified as a 36-year-old man recently fired from his job.Seven people were killed at the weekend in a series of random shootings in Texas, with the suspect identified as a 36-year-old man recently fired from his job.
Last month, separate attacks in El Paso and Dayton left 31 people dead.Last month, separate attacks in El Paso and Dayton left 31 people dead.
More on US gun violence:More on US gun violence: