KEY POINTS

  • Seven bodies were found at a rural home on fire in Valhermoso Springs, Alabama
  • No suspect or motive has been released in connection with the shooting
  • It comes nearly two weeks after another shooting in the same county that left three others dead

Alabama police said Friday seven people were killed in a shooting at a rural home and police said no suspect had been identified.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office responded to calls from neighbors about gunshots at the home in Valhermoso Springs, Alabama. Officers arrived at the home around 11:30 p.m. Thursday and found parts of the house on fire. Deputies were able to put the fires out and discovered the bodies of four men and three women.

The body of a dog was also found at the house.

“It is a horrific scene and to be able to process it will take some time,” sheriff spokesman Mike Swafford told Huntsville ABC-affiliate WAAY. “We don’t have a motive at this time. We don’t have a determined suspect at this time. Investigators are following leads to piece together exactly what happened and who was involved. We can say we don’t believe there is an active threat to anybody in the area.”

Police have not released the identities of the victims, but Swafford said some lived at the home. He said the victims were found with multiple gunshot wounds and investigators suspected the fire was meant to cover up the shooting.

“This doesn't happen in Morgan County,” Swafford said. “We had a triple homicide two weeks ago and I think that's the first anyone can remember in 20 plus years so to have seven is substantial.”

Swafford was referring to a shooting on May 24 in Decatur, Alabama. The suspect, Carson Ray Peters, is in custody and facing capital murder charges for that shooting.

Police scene
A man was accused of holding his boyfriend hostage for several hours. Getty Images
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