A 36-year old suspect in Missouri shot dead seven people, four of them members of his family, before killing himself on Thursday, authorities said.

The suspect, Joseph Jesse Aldridge, went on a deadly rampage that after he reportedly discovered his mother dead due to what may be natural causes, authorities said on Friday.

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Aldridge was later found lifeless apparent due to self-inflicted gunshot injuries inside a vehicle in a nearby county after the deaths in the rural area of Tyrone, which lies in the southern part of Missouri, police said.

The coroner of Texas County, Tom Whittaker, said the remains of a woman who has been identified as Aldridge's mother, Alice Aldridge, 74, had lost her life 24 hours before she was discovered by authorities on Thursday night. Investigators said she may have died of natural causes.

The coroner said the suspect's discovery of his mother's body may have driven the suspect on a killing binge, but investigators said a motive has yet to be determined. The deputies of the Texas County Sheriff first found out the rampage - which covered six crime scenes in a three-mile area in Tyrone - just after 10 in the evening local time. A girl called 911 and told emergency she heard gunshots in her house.

Married couple Julie Aldridge and Darrell Aldridge were included in four of the seven victims were identified, a Missouri Highway Patrol -- Sgt. Jeff Kinder -- said at a media briefing Friday. He added that some were cousins of the attacker.

The other three shooting victims have not yet been identified, but they are not members of the suspect's family.

Deputes of the Texas County Sheriff were told of the killings at 10:15 in the evening Thursday, when a young female called 911 to say gunshots rang out in her home and she fled. Deputies answered the call and they found two people dead inside the home.

Meanwhile, another five people were found shot to death in three other houses in Tyrone. One other person was also found injured at a party. The victim was being treated at the hospital and is expected to recover, Texas County police said. 

TagsMissouri, death