BELL, Florida: A once-convicted felon killed six of his grandchildren, including an infant, his adult daughter and himself in a shooting at the man’s home in a small town in rural northern Florida, a sheriff said.
Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz at a news conference on Thursday identified the shooter as 51-year-old Don Spirit. He would not say if the woman killed was the mother of any of the two boys and four girls, some of whom spent a lot of time at the rural home.
Schultz said a deputy who arrived after Spirit called emergency services to say he might harm himself and others made contact with the man, who then committed suicide. Authorities then found the other seven bodies.
At a later news conference, Schultz released the names of the victims.
They were Sarah Lorraine Spirit, 28; Kaleb Kuhlmann, 11; Kylie Kuhlmann, 9; Johnathon Kuhlmann, 8; Destiny Stewart, 5; Brandon Stewart, 4; and Alanna Stewart, who was born in June.
Schultz said Spirit was the only suspect and that some people were left alive at the home.
Schultz also said Spirit had a criminal history. According to the Florida department of corrections website, Spirit was released from prison in February 2006 for a gun charge. (AP)
