LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A 42-year-old man fatally shot seven other family members, including his wife and their five children, inside their home in U.S. state of Utah before he took his own life, authorities said on Thursday.
Eight people were found shot to death inside a home Wednesday in Iron County's Enoch, a mostly rural and agricultural city, in the southwestern U.S. state. The city is nearly 400 kilometers south of Salt Lake City, the capital city of Utah.
Police officers were summoned to the home in reference to a welfare check. Concerned family and friends contacted the police after not hearing from the victims, said the Enoch City in a news release.
"While this intense investigation is ongoing, investigators currently believe there are no suspects outstanding," said the news release, noting that the suspect is Michael Haight.
The seven victims were identified as Haight's wife, Tausha Haight, 40, Haight's mother-in-law, Gail Earl, 78, the couple's five children, including a 17-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, a 7-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy, according to the news release.
Iron County School District said in a letter sent to parents that "eight members of a family residing in Enoch with five students in our schools tragically passed away."
"This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school district, especially our students," said the school district. ■