Colorado Springs Shooting: 7 Dead In Murder-Suicide, Suspect A Boyfriend Of Victim

Seven people were killed at a Colorado Springs, Colorado birthday party early Sunday morning in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said.

Officers were responding to a report of a shooting at a residence in Canterbury Manufactured Home Community at approximately 12:18 a.m. (2:18 a.m. ET) when they discovered six deceased adults, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSDP) said in a statement released Sunday. They also located an adult male with serious injuries, but died from his wounds after being transported to a local hospital.

An initial analysis of evidence and preliminary reviews indicated the shooting occurred while friends and family, which included children, were celebrating a birthday party for one of the victims at a trailer in the 2800 block of Preakness Way.

Authorities said the gunman, a boyfriend of one of the female victims, arrived at the event and started shooting people before taking his own life.

"Words fall short to describe the tragedy that took place this morning," CSDP chief Vince Niski said in response to the shooting.

"This is something you hope never happens in your own community, in the place that you call home."

The names of the victims and the suspect will be released at a later date once they have been officially identified and their causes of death have been determined, police said. They also pointed out that the children in the trailer were unharmed.

Authorities said they are still investigating the incident to determine a motive.

"We ask the public’s patience with the investigation and we seek the sensitivity of our media partners as CSPD completes a thorough investigation to provide answers to the families and friends impacted by this tragedy," Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said in a statement.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, for his part, said the shooting was "devastating" especially since it coincided with the world's celebration for Mother's Day.

"Multiple lives were taken today by this terrible act of violence. Families torn apart, and at a birthday (party) no less," Polis said in a statement released Monday.