RIVER RIDGE, La. — A tragic incident occurred in Louisiana early Saturday morning when a man fatally shot his wife and young child, injuring his two other children before being killed by law enforcement officers who responded to the scene, according to the local sheriff.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department received an emergency call around 4 a.m. from a 13-year-old girl, who reported that her father had shot her mother and younger sibling. Sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto III expressed the gravity of the situation during a press conference, noting the emotional impact of listening to the child’s distress call.

Upon arriving at the residence in River Ridge, located just outside New Orleans, deputies found the lifeless body of a 40-year-old woman and her 2-year-old child. Officers later located the man, who was armed, in a back bedroom. In the ensuing confrontation, multiple deputies opened fire, resulting in the man’s death.

As for the victims, a 9-year-old girl was discovered in critical condition and was rushed to a children’s hospital for emergency surgery. The eldest daughter sustained a minor injury to her ankle. The sheriff’s department has not publicly identified any family members involved in this tragic event.

The motive behind this violent act remains unclear, and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to such a devastating incident. Sheriff Lopinto remarked on the tragedy of the situation and indicated that they are exploring the factors that may have contributed to the events that unfolded.