Columbus police said they are trying to determine why a man fatally shot a couple and their 7-year-old son and critically wounded their 12-year-old daughter Monday evening.
The victims have been identified as 31-year-old John E. Anderson II, 30-year-old Christina M. Anderson and 7-year-old Landon E. Anderson.
Upon entering the Anderson home, police discovered four family members suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The couple and their 7-year-old son were pronounced dead at the scene.
John and Christina's 12-year-old daughter, Makyleigh Anderson, was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in critical condition, while a fifth person was taken from the house uninjured.
The shooting suspect, Barry Kirk, 50, was shot dead by three officers after a short chase outside of the home.
According to Columbus police, a shooting was reported at the Anderson’s home on South Terrace Avenue in west Columbus just after 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
When officers arrived on scene, they witnessed Kirk - who is a neighbor of the Andersons - running from their home. He was then shot multiple times by police officers and transported to Mount Carmel West Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead a short time later.
None of the officers were injured in the shooting.
Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said Monday night he didn't know if Kirk exchanged gunfire with the officers, although a handgun was found nearby.
"I don't know if this was a home invasion, if he was let into the house, if they knew the suspect," said Sgt. Weiner. Those are "the questions that the investigator is going to be asking."
In 2004, 50-year-old Kirk was charged with assault against his wife - who has since filed for divorce. In 2009, he was charged with making a threat over the phone. Police say Kirk called the governor's office and threatened gun violence.
Jeff Drown, who described himself as a family friend, said John Anderson had lived in the neighborhood for about 10 years and was a hard worker who had just started a pavement sealing business. Anderson was friendly and always willing to help people, he said.
"He's just a good kid," said Drown, 51, of Columbus. "He don't get into trouble. He don't bother nobody. He just raised his family. And now he's gone."
Barry Kirk's Background
Kirk had a couple marks on his record. In 2009, he was found guilty of calling the governor's office and threatening to shoot people. He was also charged with domestic violence in 2004 for punching his wife, those charges were dropped.
The day of the murders, neighbor Alphonso Carriker saw Kirk go in the Anderson's back door but didn't think anything of it.
“We talk every day and I never thought that he was that type of person," Carriker said.
Kirk belonged to the Iron Workers Local 172. The business manager says he had no complaints against him.
He refrained from talking about Kirk's personal life but friends and neighbors say he was going through a divorce.
“Although Mr. Kirk may have had the problems of everyday life, we in no way could have foreseen an act of this nature,” Benton Amburgey. “Like I say, we were all as shocked as all of you were.”