Father Allegedly Murders Wife And 3 Kids; Stepdaughter Posts Heartbreaking TikTok Videos

Mecosta County -- A mother and three young children were found shot to death in western Michigan. Evidence suggests that the woman's husband may have fatally shot the victims before shooting himself, authorities have said.

"I am in total shock. I am so devastated," one Hailey Salisbury said, adding that the deceased were her mother and three half-siblings, ABC 13 reported. Salisbury posted about the deaths on social media.

The shooting took place in Austin Township on Friday. Responding officers found Dawn Gillard, 40, and her kids, Katelynn Gillard, 6, Ronald Gillard, 4, Joshua Gillard, 3, at the scene with gunshot wounds, AP News reported.

The woman's husband, whose name has not been released, was also at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

"The matter continues to be under investigation with no information gathered at this time to indicate what led to the tragic event," Mecosta County Sheriff Brian Miller said, according to the outlet.

"With our first responders, almost everyone at the scene had children of their own. I can tell you they took it very hard," Miller added.

Salisbury said the suspect is her stepfather and the father of the murdered children. She posted about her family members' death on social media and appeared visibly distraught on TikTok.

"Please please please hold your family close and don't take them for granted. You never know what could happen," she wrote in one of her TikTok videos following her mother and half-siblings' deaths, according to Yahoo News Australia.

In another video, she reportedly shared a message that appeared to be directed toward her stepfather, saying, "I WILL find a way to speak to you before you die in prison you disgusting sickening thing."

Salisbury revealed that she lost her own father to cancer about six months ago and is now forced to deal with the tragic death of her mother and step-siblings.

TikTok users extended their support to Salisbury in the comments section.

"Praying you have someone by your side who is helping you through all this, sending healing blessings to you," one TikTok user wrote, while another noted, "I am so extremely sorry. Words are never enough in a circumstance like this, but I hope you feel supported and loved."

Morley Stanwood Community Schools Superintendent Roger Cole said in a statement that one of three slain children went to the Morley Stanwood Elementary School.

"How it happened, why it happened, is not the focus on this letter," he wrote, as per M Live. "The loss of a life is always difficult, but when that loss is tragic, and yes senseless, it is much harder to deal with.

The Mecosta County Sheriff's Office noted in a Facebook post that it is encouraging anyone who has any information that is relevant to the investigation to contact Detective Sergeant Mike Mohr at (231) 592-0150.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.