4 People Found Dead After Apparent Murder-Suicide in North Dakota, 3 of the Deceased Were Relatives

Four people were found dead in a wheat field in North Dakota on Monday evening.

“He was a pillar of the community it’s a total devastating loss,” said Pat Traynor, longtime friend of Dulmage, to the outlet. “Everybody loved Doug Dulmage.”

NBC News/YouTube

Though the names of the other three deceased have not been released, it was a family member of theirs who reportedly discovered the bodies after the three didn’t return home.

After discovering the bodies, the officers proceeded to secure the scene with the help of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and other local law enforcement agencies, detailed Sheriff Andrew Hillier in the release.

A firearm was located at the scene in the possession of one of the deceased. All four had gunshot wounds.

The investigation, which is still ongoing, indicates that the incident was a murder-suicide.

“There is no known threat to the public,” the release concluded. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.

“This is the first,” Sheriff Hillier told local newsInforum, explaining that this is the first time the county has seen such a tragedy.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

As for the crime scene, farm equipment — including a tractor with broken glass and bullet holes — will be taken and processed shortly. “It’s a very large scene,” Hillier told Inforum.

Sheriff Hillier did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com