As of Friday evening, six children and two adults had been found dead in a Grand Haven Township home where firefighters battled a fire, Capt. Jake Sparks of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said.
Capt. Jake Sparks delivered the update during a Friday evening news conference.
Sparks said some victims had gunshot wounds, but officials had not determined how many were shot or the causes of death.
The victims were discovered after crews entered the smoke-filled home in the 14900 block of Riverside Trail.
The children ranged in age from 5 to 15, and the two adults were in their 40s. Investigators believe all eight were related and lived at the home. Formal identifications were pending.
Firefighters first responded between 8:30 and 9 a.m. after callers reported smelling smoke, but they could not locate a fire.
Crews returned around 11:40 a.m. following reports of white smoke and discovered the victims inside.
Officials expected autopsies over the weekend. Sparks said investigators were examining whether someone intentionally set the fire and whether the deaths could be a murder-suicide.
He stressed that investigators had reached no conclusions. Authorities were not seeking an outside suspect at that stage.
Michigan State Police arson investigators were assisting, Sparks said. The fire’s origin and cause remained under investigation.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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