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Seven people were shot during a 21st birthday party at a home in Florence, Kentucky, early Saturday (July 6) morning. Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said that the shooting occurred just before 3 a.m.
When officers arrived at the home, gunshots were still being fired. As they tried to secure the scene, the suspect, 20-year-old Chase Garvey, fled in a vehicle. Officers gave chase, and Garvey crashed into a ditch. He was found in a car with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and taken to the hospital, where he died.
Mallery said that four people, Delaney Eary, 19; Hayden Rybicki, 20; Shane Miller, 20; and Melissa Parrett, 44, were killed in the shooting.
The other three victims were taken to hospital and remain in critical but stable condition. They are expected to make a full recovery.
Mallery said that a motive has not been determined. However, he noted that Garvey knew the victims and was not invited to the party.
"We've never dealt with this before. I know it's going on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that we've had a mass shooting in Florence," Mallery said during a press conference. "It is very emotional. And my emotions are for the victims, their families, the officers that responded, and everybody that was touched by this situation."