A Florida Grandfather shot and killed his daughter and her six grandchildren on Thursday, in the Florida town of Bell. As police arrived at the crime scene, the troubled man committed suicide.
During a press conference, Sheriff Robert D. Schultz III of the Gilchrist County told reporters that the six children were aged three months to ten years old. The Sheriff made the name of the attacked public: Don C. Spirit, a Caucasian 51 year old man. The children’s identities were also released later on Thursday by the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s office: three month-old Alana Stewart, Brandon Stewart aged 4, Destiny Stewart aged 5, Johnathon Kuhlman aged 8, Kylie Kuhlman aged 9, Kaleb Kuhlman 11 and Sarah Loraine Spirit, 28.
The 911 call was placed by Spirit himself around 4:30 PM. During the call, Don Spirit made references to having harmed others and himself.
Police Deny Additional Information during Ongoing Investigation
Other information regarding Spirit, the moment when deputies first made contact with him or where the victims were found weren’t released. What Sheriff Schultz did say was that the victims were “certainly all over the property”.
Until now, police hasn’t speculated on a motive. They informed the public that details couldn’t be released about an ongoing investigation, although they did confirm that Spirit had a criminal history. Police has already been called to his house in previous occasions. Spirit fatally shot his 8-year old son during a hunting trip (at that time, he pleaded guilty to the charge of firearm possession by a convicted felon).He was sentenced to three years in prison for the shooting of his son and was released in 2006. In 1998, the man had also been convicted of marijuana possession.
Sheriff Schultz declined to inform his audience whether a gun had been retrieved or what type of gun was used during the shooting.