Father reports killing family to 911 before taking his own life

Aug. 12 (UPI) — Authorities in Kansas said a family of six is dead after the 53-year-old father killed his wife and four children before reporting the shooting to police and then turning the weapon on himself.

The incident occurred Tuesday morning at a residence in Winfield, Kansas, located about 43 miles southeast of Wichita.

Winfield Police Chief Robbie Delong told reporters during an evening press conference that dispatch received a phone call at 8:50 a.m. local time from a man, later identified as Ronald Williams Sr., who said he had killed his family and intended to kill himself.

Officers in the area for a traffic accident responded to the residence in the 400 block of West 9th Avenue, but as the first-arriving officer approached, a single gunshot was heard inside, he said.

The officers retreated and erected a perimeter around the residence. Shortly before 11 a.m., after what Delong described as “enough backup had arrived and other methods had been exhausted, officers breached the front door and called for medical blockistance on discovering the suspect and five other individuals dead.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has identified the victims as Kelly George, 44, Carol Williams, 9, Ronald Williams Jr., 7, Sarah Williams, 5, and Kelly Magee-Williams, 3.

After the bodies were discovered, the Winfield Police Department asked KBI for blockistance investigating.

“This is in my 20-plus years one of the hardest things I’ve ever seen,” Delong said.

Delong told reporters that police had previous contacted with the suspect for erratic behavior, including within the last few weeks, but not anything that “would have indicated that we would be where we are today.”

KBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Diaz said a motive was under investigation.

He said the crime scene response team was processing the scene while other agents were conducting follow-up interviews with neighbors and contacting known relatives.

“This is a very difficult case for the agents and the crime scene personnel that are working it,” he said.

The incident is the latest familicide, also referred to as a family-annihilation case, to occur in the United States.

In July, a family of eight was found dead inside their Michigan home. Authorities said the father, 47-year-old Kristopher Karolkiewicz, fatally shot his wife and six children before setting their house on fire and then killing himself.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support. Globally, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has contact information for crisis centers around the world.