A 42-year-old man shot and killed his five children, wife and mother-in-law before committing suicide in the western United States, local authorities said Thursday.

The first elements of the investigation “suggest that the suspect committed suicide after killing seven other people in the home”, explained in a press release the city of Enoch City in Utah where the tragedy took place.

Police discovered the bodies Wednesday afternoon after receiving a call asking them to check on the family's condition, according to the document.

They then discovered the eight corpses, all of which bore “gunshot wounds,” the statement continued.

The five children were between the ages of 4 and 17. The suspect, Michael Haight, also killed his 40-year-old wife and 78-year-old mother-in-law, before turning the gun on himself.

The investigation must continue with the hearing of witnesses of the drama and the autopsies of the bodies, adds the same source.

Enoch City is a small town of 7,000 people, located in southwestern Utah, more than four hours by road from the state capital, Salt Lake City.

Joe Biden and his wife Jill "mourn with the people of Enoch City," the White House said.

"Too many Americans have lost loved ones or had their lives turned upside down by gun violence," executive spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence,” Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox tweeted, asking to pray for the residents of the city.

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