Gun violence

4 killed in shooting during party at a Kentucky home; suspect died after a vehicle chase, police say

Police say they found seven shooting victims when they arrived at a home in Florence at about 2:50 a.m. Saturday.

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Four people were killed and three others were wounded in an early Saturday shooting during a party at a home in northern Kentucky, police said.

The shooting suspect later died after fleeing the home and leading police on a vehicle pursuit that ended with the suspect's car falling into a ditch, police said.

Police heard shots being fired when they arrived at a home in Florence at about 2:50 a.m., said Jeff Mallery, the city's police chief. Police found seven shooting victims at the home, Mallery told media during a news conference.

Four people were found dead, police said. Three people were taken to a hospital in Cincinnati in critical condition. They were expected to recover, Mallery said.

The suspect led police on a chase that ended after his vehicle went off a road and fell into a ditch. The suspect had a self-inflicted gunshot wound and died at a hospital, police said.

Police said the suspect acted alone, and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

People had gathered at the home for a birthday party for the 21-year-old son of the homeowner, Mallery said. The homeowner died in the shooting, the police chief said. It appeared that the 20-year-old suspect knew people at the party but he had not been invited, Mallery said.

A motive was under investigation.

โ€œI know what's going on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that we've had a mass shooting in Florence,โ€ Mallery said. โ€œYeah, it is very emotional. My emotions are for the victims, their families, the officers that responded, everybody that was touched by this situation.โ€

Florence is located about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

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