Five people, including the suspect, were killed and three others were wounded in a shooting at a birthday party in northern Kentucky early Saturday morning.
Around 3 a.m. officers responded to multiple calls of an active shooter at a residence in Florence, Kentucky.
When officers arrived, the shooting was still ongoing and two people were outside the residence, Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and three others were transported to a local hospital and are in stable condition. Police said they will make a full recovery.
“We’ve never dealt with this before. I know it’s happened all over the country, but this is the first time we’ve had a shooting in Florence,” Mallory said at the press conference. “It’s very emotional.”
Mallory identified the four as 19-year-old Delaney Erie, 20-year-old Shane Miller, 20-year-old Hayden Rybicki and 44-year-old Melissa Barrett.
Missy Rittinger, the Boone County coroner, confirmed that two of the victims were female and two were male.
The shooter has been identified as 21-year-old Chase Garvey.
The incident occurred during Barrett’s 21-year-old son’s birthday party.
Party members recognized the suspect and identified him to officers, Mallery said. The suspect’s motive is still under investigation.
“I don’t believe he was invited to the party, but there is a relationship,” he said, adding that an initial investigation indicated “he just showed up.”
Garvey fled the scene in a car, police said. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but he continued driving, leading to a pursuit. Mallery said police believe Garvey shot himself while driving and fell into the ditch.
Police found the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
The Florence Police Department said a preliminary investigation revealed the suspect acted alone. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed last night that its deputies responded with Florence authorities, but it did not conduct a separate investigation.
Florence is located 12 miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio.
