A man has kept minds wondering why he suddenly killed his girlfriend, and both parents of a friend before turning the gun on himself.
On Wednesday night, a 42-year-old man shocked police officers after he shot and killed his girlfriend and both parents of a 3-year-old girl in their central Maine home while the child was in the house, then went outside and killed himself in the driveway with a 9mm handgun.
Maine State Police and local investigators still had no clear sense of what prompted Herman Derico to open fire in Oakland, about 75 miles (120 km) north of Portland, state police spokesman Steve McCausland said.
Police identified the victims as Amanda Bragg, 30; Michael Muzerolle, 29, and Amy Derosby, 28. Derosby and Bragg were sisters. Bragg and Muzerolle were the parents of the child, who police had earlier described as 4 years old.
McCausland told reporters, "At this point what state police and Oakland police are trying to determine is what sparked the violence here last night and at this hour we do not have answers."
After being shot, Derosby had called 911 to report the attack, McCausland said: "This woman who had been wounded picked up the phone, called 911 and gave police information that was very helpful."