A father has killed his young daughters before shooting himself in the head in an attempted murder-suicide over a custody battle.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the man shot his daughters, aged five and seven, before shooting himself in the head.
He was taken to hospital, where he is on life support, authorities said.
Rincon District deputies arrived on the scene in the 5700 block of North Kolb Road in Tucson, Arizona, at around 7pm on Wednesday.
They responded after the children’s mother called 911 to report a threatening call she received from her estranged husband who had their daughters with him.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the couple were having legal issues, Tucson News Now reported, and the girls had been visiting their father at the time of the tragedy.
He added that it appeared he had only recently moved into the condo, which was sparsely furnished.
When deputies arrived, they tried to talk to the man from outside the front door.
But shortly afterwards, they heard one shot was heard and forced entry into the home.
The father and his two daughters were found inside, all with gunshot wounds.
Deputies immediately began life-saving measures, authorities said.
The seven-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
The five-year-old was taken to Banner University Medical Center, but succumbed to her injuries.
A news release from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.
Read More: Two girls, 5 and 7, dead after shooting on northeast side
Photo Courtesy of Monica Grimaldo
