A 42-year-old American man, Michael Haight shot seven members of his family before killing himself in the US state of Utah after his wife filed for divorce, police said.
The family of eight was found dead inside a rural home in Enoch City on Wednesday night during a welfare check at the property.
Police say the victims included the man’s wife, his five children and his mother-in-law.
City manager Rob Dotson said the town of about 8,000 people was in shock.
At a news conference on Thursday, city officials said 42-year-old insurance salesman Michael Haight had opened fire on his wife, 40-year-old Tausha, his 78-year-old mother-in-law Gail Earl, and his five children before he killed himself.
The five children, who were not named, include three girls, 17, 12 and 7, and two boys, 7 and 4.
Enoch City manager Rob Dotson said their bodies had been discovered by police on Wednesday, after someone reported that the wife had missed a scheduled appointment, prompting a welfare check on the family’s home.
Mr Dotson said each of the victims appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound.
Officials also confirmed that the wife had filed for divorce on 21 December.
“Tausha was the most kind and generous person and she never ever said anything ill about anyone,” Tina Brown, a friend of the family, told KSTU-TV. “She would give the shirt off of her back for anyone and she served people tirelessly.”
City officials, including mayor Jeffrey Chestnut, appeared emotional as they provided their latest update to media.
“It’s not too often something like this hits very close to home,” Mr Chestnut said, adding that the Haight family had been his neighbours.
“The youngest children played in my yard with my sons,” he said.
