Former Tampa Man Shoots Daughter, Grandkids

Don Spirit

BELL, Fla. — A man who spent time in prison a decade ago for the shooting death of his young son killed six of his grandchildren, including an infant, his adult daughter and himself in a rampage at a home where authorities in the small Florida town say they had been called to in the past.

Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz says the shooter, 51-year-old Don Spirit, called 9-1-1 Thursday afternoon to say he might harm himself or others. When a deputy arrived, Spirit committed suicide and authorities then found the seven gunshot victims.

Schultz said deputies found the following victims dead on the property: Kaleb, 11, Kylie, 9, Johnathon Kuhlmann, 8, Destiny, 5, Brandon, 4, and 3-month-old Alanna Stewart. The children’s mother has been identified as 28-year-old Sarah Lorraine Spirit.

Schultz wouldn’t say if a weapon was recovered or what sort was used. He didn’t have a motive for the massacre but said deputies had been to the home in the past for various reasons.

The Associated Press contributed to this article