A man has killed his daughter and six minor grandchildren and later committed suicide in north Florida, police said. The horrific mass shooting incident took place yesterday near Bell, a town of about 500, located roughly 48 kms west of Gainesville when a man killed his daughter and her six children, aged 3 months to 10 years, before killing himself, Gilchrist County deputies said.

The shooter, identified as 51-year-old Don Spirit, contacted emergency services '911' at about 4 pm, officials said adding that the first deputy to arrive at the home on NW 30th and NW 39th streets made contact with Spirit before he committed suicide.

The deputy then conducted a search operation at the home and discovered the bodies. "They had been called to the residence before for a "wide range of issues," deputies said at a news conference on yesterday evening.

Identities of the victims have not been released yet, nor the motive behind the shooting.  "We are asking for prayers for this community and the families involved. We ask for patience from the media and public as we work through this investigation," the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on its Facebook page.