COLUMBIA, Tenn. -- Four children and their mother were found dead in Maury County on Monday night.
The family died in an apparent murder-suicide, according to Maury County District Attorney Brent Cooper.
An adult sibling found the bodies in 1000 block of Carters Creek Pike in Columbia. First responders arrived around 6 p.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, according to the Maury County Fire Department's Facebook post.
"It’s a beautiful home, and nothing would indicate otherwise except for what has happened here this afternoon,” Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland, who added that there were no previous reports of violence at the Columbia address.
The children, three girls and one boy, were all home-schooled, according to Rowland.
“They still have impacts in this community, people care and love them," Rowland said.
The sheriff said the scene on Carters Creek Pike ranks as one of the saddest he’s ever seen.
“No matter what a husband and wife, no matter what their struggles may be, you still have children involved,” Rowland said. “You have a father here that is a victim of this as well.”
Authorities have not released the family's identity.
The Maury County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting deaths and does not believe that there is a threat to the community at this time.
"I’d ask our community to lift the rest of this family and friends up in prayer and be respectful of the family as well because they’re victims in this, and they’re going to have to learn how to deal with this and live life without their loved ones," said Rowland.
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