Don Charles Spirit, a grandfather from Florida, shot dead his daughter and her six children before taking his own life at a home in the town of Bell, police have said.

The children range in age from three months to 10 years old, said Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz.

Robert Schultz said a colleague responded to reports of a shooting on Thursday afternoon and on arrival made contact with Don Charles Spirit, 51, before he killed himself.

“I haven’t seen anything like this at all,” said Robert Schultz.

“This county, this community is going to be devastated from this. It is a small county, we are all family here.

Don Charles Spirit shot dead his daughter and her six children before taking his own life at a home in the town of Bell

“We’re asking for prayers for this community and the families involved.”

After Don Charles Spirit took his own life, police found the other seven bodies in the house, although there were other people there who were still alive.

Don Charles Spirit, who was known to police previously, was the only suspect, said Robert Schultz.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, the grandfather was once behind bars for a gun charge, and was released in February 2006.

Bell is a town of about 350 people located 30 miles west of Gainesville.

Multiple shootings in the US have happened in schools, colleges, military institutions, shopping malls and homes.

It is likely to reopen a painful debate about gun ownership, but is unlikely to change deeply entrenched polarized views.

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