A tragic incident unfolded in Byron, Wyoming, where a mother shot her four young daughters, resulting in the death or critical injury of three before turning the gun on herself, according to local sheriff’s officials. The 32-year-old mother and her surviving 7-year-old daughter were taken to the hospital after the shocking events that occurred on Monday afternoon in the small community of approximately 600 residents, located just 14 miles south of the Montana border.

Details regarding their medical conditions were not immediately available, as officials from the Big Horn County Sheriff’s office announced on Tuesday. Neither the mother nor her surviving daughter were reported to be at a nearby hospital in Cody, and attempts to reach a hospital in Lovell for comment did not receive a reply.

The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly called 911 to inform the authorities that she had just shot and killed her four daughters and intended to take her own life. Efforts made by a dispatcher to keep her on the line before the call was suddenly disconnected were unsuccessful.

Law enforcement arrived at the residence shortly after the call to find the mother conscious in a bedroom, suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Tragically, two of her daughters, aged 2 and 9, were discovered deceased in their crib and bed, while another 2-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries shortly after the police reached the scene.

Sheriff Ken Blackburn expressed his horror at the incident, stating that the “nightmare” scene uncovered by officers is something “that no one should have to endure.” The ongoing investigation into this devastating situation is currently underway, with authorities seeking to piece together the events that led to this heartbreaking outcome.