At least five people have been reportedly killed in a mass shooting in England Thursday. Authorities said one of those that were killed was a young child believed to be less than 10 years old.
Investigators said the shooter had forcibly entered a home in southwest England and shot a woman and her young daughter. The shooter then went outside and randomly shot at people passing by in the streets of Plymouth.
The gunman was later found dead, along with the bodies of three other people. It was not made immediately clear how the gunman had died and if he had committed suicide.
Devon & Cornwall Police said paramedics were able to bring one woman who was still alive to a nearby local hospital. Unfortunately, the woman later succumbed to her injuries and died. A local member of Parliament told reporters that several people were injured in the shooting, and most had to be admitted to hospital.
"We should prepare ourselves for more grim news tomorrow. Please look out for one another," MP Luke Pollard said on social media.
Pollard said he was "utterly devastated" when he learned that one of the victims was a young child.
One witness told reporters that she came out of her house after hearing multiple gunshots. The witness said she saw a man running out of a house and then randomly shooting at people walking on the streets. He was reportedly dressed in black and carrying a shotgun. Other witnesses said the gunman was using a semiautomatic rifle.
Police officials have assured the public that the attack was unlikely to be an act of terrorism. Officials are currently still investigating the incident, and they are asking those with knowledge about the shooting to come forward.
The U.K. has one of the lowest gun-related crime rates globally, which is why the incident came as a surprise for most residents. Home Secretary Priti Patel said they would be doing everything they can to get to the bottom of the incident, and her office will provide the police all the support it needs.
Patel said the incident is "shocking," and her thoughts are with the families of those killed. She urged the public to remain calm and to cooperate with the police and emergency services.
