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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/19/florida-shooting-six-children-among-eight-dead-say-reports
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| Florida shooting: man kills six grandchildren and daughter in murder-suicide | Florida shooting: man kills six grandchildren and daughter in murder-suicide |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A grandfather shot and killed his daughter and six grandchildren at his Florida home on Thursday before turning his gun on himself, law enforcement officials in Florida said. | A grandfather shot and killed his daughter and six grandchildren at his Florida home on Thursday before turning his gun on himself, law enforcement officials in Florida said. |
| The children’s ages ranged from three months to 10 years, Gilchrist County sheriff Robert Schultz announced at a press conference in Bell, a small town in central Florida about 30 miles west of Gainesville. | The children’s ages ranged from three months to 10 years, Gilchrist County sheriff Robert Schultz announced at a press conference in Bell, a small town in central Florida about 30 miles west of Gainesville. |
| Schultz named the killer as Don C Spirit, 51, a town resident who called 911 at about 4pm making threats against his family and himself. He was alive when the first sheriff’s deputy arrived at the house, Schultz said, but killed himself soon after. | Schultz named the killer as Don C Spirit, 51, a town resident who called 911 at about 4pm making threats against his family and himself. He was alive when the first sheriff’s deputy arrived at the house, Schultz said, but killed himself soon after. |
| The Orlando Sentinel reported that in 2001 a man named Don C Spirit accidentally shot and killed his eight-year-old son Kyle with a high powered rifle in a hunting accident. Florida Department of Corrections records show he was released from jail in 2006 after serving three years for firearms offences. | |
| At the press conference on Thursday, Schultz said there was an interaction between Spirit and the deputy, but that it was believed the seven victims were already dead by the time the officer arrived. | At the press conference on Thursday, Schultz said there was an interaction between Spirit and the deputy, but that it was believed the seven victims were already dead by the time the officer arrived. |
| The deputy then searched the building and found the seven victims and Spirit shot to death, he added. | The deputy then searched the building and found the seven victims and Spirit shot to death, he added. |
| “We’re asking for prayers for this community and the families involved,” Schultz said. | “We’re asking for prayers for this community and the families involved,” Schultz said. |
| Family members confirmed that the woman killed in the mass shooting was Sarah Spirit, 28, who they said was Don Spirit’s daughter and mother to all six of the children. | Family members confirmed that the woman killed in the mass shooting was Sarah Spirit, 28, who they said was Don Spirit’s daughter and mother to all six of the children. |
| “There are certain things in life you can explain. And there are certain things you cannot explain. This is something I cannot explain,” Schultz told The Gainesville Sun. | |
| Bell shooting: pic.twitter.com/pp0wMLVO0d | Bell shooting: pic.twitter.com/pp0wMLVO0d |