Three children and their mother were shot and killed, and police believe the father is a suspect, according to Michigan officials.
Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller told MLive.com that evidence suggests the husband was responsible for the deaths of his children and wife, though he did not provide further details on Saturday.
According to the county sheriff’s office, deputies discovered the death of the woman and children and injured man with a gunshot wound to the head when they answered a man’s call with a gun and bullets.
Police said that four members of the family died due to bullet injuries. The person was admitted to the regional hospital.
“We have a very tight community in Mecosta,” Miller told MLive.com. “There’s no better place than to raise my kids.”
An investigation is underway.
“With our first responders, almost everyone in the scene had kids of their own. I can tell you they took it very hard,” Miller reportedly said.
Hailey Salisbury told ABC 13 that the woman killed was the 40-year-old mother of Don Gillard, and that the three children were her half-siblings, 6-year-old Caitlin Gillard, 4-year-old Ronald Gillard and 3-year-old Joshua Gillard.
“I am in total shock. I am devastated,” Salisbury said.
She said the injured person is her stepfather, Charles Gillard, according to ABC 13.
Officials have not yet disclosed the names of those involved.
According to the Daily Mail, Salisbury also posted several videos on TikTok expressing grief over the loss of his family members and in one video he said, “I will find a way to talk to you before I die in jail.”
Morley Stanwood Community School superintendent Roger Cole said one of the victims had gone to the district’s elementary school in a letter to the community on Saturday.
“How this happened, why this happened, is not the focus of this letter,” he wrote. “The loss of a life is always difficult, but when that loss is tragic, and yes senseless, it is much harder to deal with.”
