Authorities said Sunday that the bodies of seven people were found inside a home in Minnesota, but officials didn’t reveal their cause of death.
Authorities said the victims included three children and four adults. They were located at around 8 p.m. on Saturday by other family members who were carrying out a welfare check in Moorhead, located in the northwestern part of the state.
“This is an absolute horrible tragedy, made even more poignant since it is close to the holidays. My heart aches for the family and friends who received this devastating news over the weekend,“ Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson said in a statement. ”Our community mourns with them during this heartbreaking time. Please know there is no threat to the community and the Moorhead Police Department, with the assistance from the Moorhead Fire Department, are investigating.”
Three of the victims attended nearby the S.G. Reinertsen Elementary School and Moorhead High School, officials.
“It is a difficult time for our school family and our deepest condolences are with the extended family,” school spokeswoman Brenda Richman stated.
Moorhead Police Capt. Deric Swanson told The Associated Press that an investigation is still active and further information will be released later. The identities of the victims and their causes of death will also be disclosed.
Officials told local media that the bodies were transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Neighbors said that the children were seen last on Friday, Dec. 17, reported KFGO radio.
Moorhead is on the Minnesota border near Fargo, North Dakota.
Other details about the incident were not provided by officials.