BELL -- A grandfather, his daughter and six grandchildren ages 3 months to 10 years old died Thursday afternoon as a result of a murder-suicide at the grandfather’s home in northern Gilchrist County, authorities said.
Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz identified the gunman as Don Charles Spirit, 51, and said the shootings occurred at Spirit’s home near 29th Terrace and 30th Street, northeast of Bell.
Spirit fatally shot his daughter, whom Schultz declined to identify, and six of his grandchildren, some of whom lived with Spirit at the home, the sheriff said at a news conference Thursday night at the Gilchrist emergency management center near Bell. Schultz also declined to identify the slain children.
Schultz said there was no apparent motive for the shootings. The sheriff did say that deputies have had to respond to incidents at the home in the past.
Schultz said the Sheriff’s Office got a 911 call from Spirit at about 4 p.m. Thursday, and, “When he called 911, (Spirit) said enough to alarm us to get someone there, and we needed to get there in a hurry.”
Schultz said that in the 911 call, Spirit made reference to harming others and himself.
A Gilchrist County deputy arrived at Spirit’s home, had a discussion with Spirit, at which point Spirit fatally shot himself, Schultz said. At that point, Schultz said authorities went through the home and found the seven others fatally shot.
Schultz said Spirit has a daughter other than the one he apparently shot on Thursday.
“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 Sun Thursday night.
An earlier version of this story is posted below.
BELL — Two adults and six children are dead as a result of shootings Thursday at a home in northern Gilchrist County.
Sources said the shootings occurred north of the town of Bell, off a graded road a couple of miles from U.S. 129.
Sources said they could not release further details involving the deaths, although Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz scheduled a news conference for 7 p.m. Thursday night.
Bell is small town of just 350 people about 30 miles west of Gainesville.
This is a breaking news story. Check back later tonight for more information.