Police said they received reports of the man showing “erratic” and “aggressive” behavior a few weeks before the incident
Credit: KSN TV/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- Police say Ronald H. Williams Sr. called 911 to confess before dying by suicide as officers arrived
- Authorities revealed Williams Sr. had a history of erratic behavior and a criminal record dating back to 1995
- The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is working with local police to investigate the tragic incident further
A father in Kansas allegedly killed his whole family — including four children — before turning the gun on himself, according to authorities.
Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong said in a press conference shared by local outlet KCTV that the incident happened at a home in Winfield, Kansas, on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 11.
DeLong shared that dispatch received a 911 call from a male individual who stated that he “had killed his entire family and he was getting ready to kill himself.”
Officers who had been nearby respondedand when they approached the house, they heard a gunshot. They subsequently set up a perimeter and barricaded the area. About two hours later, officers breached the front door and located six people deceased in the home.
“I believe when he called 911 that he was accurate in what he said, and when officers arrived on scene that final gunshot wound was a self-inflicted one,” Jason Diaz, special agent in charge with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), said during the press conference.
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The suspect was identified as 53-year-old Ronald H. Williams Sr., and he was confirmed as one of the people found dead in the home, authorities said.
The other five who were found deceased include 44-year-old Kelly L. George, 9-year-old Carol A. Williams, 7-year-old Ronald H. Williams Jr., 5-year-old Sarah K. Williams and 3-year-old Kelly M. Magee-Williams.
Police said they believed that this was an “isolated incident” and there was no “ongoing threat” to the community.
“Obviously, this is a very tragic day in our community,” DeLong said during the press conference.
The police chief also noted that they have “had a few calls of erratic” and “aggressive” behavior regarding Ronald Sr. within the last few weeks, which included “confronting and yelling at people.” However, he noted that there was “not enough really to act on” and “nothing indicated we’d be where we are.”
Credit: Getty
Ronald Sr. was registered as a sex offender in the state after being convicted in 1998 of attempted indecent liberties with a child for an incident involving a 15-year-old girl, according to KCTV and NBC News.
He also faced felony charges, including for drugs, battery, burglary, assault on a law enforcement officer, from 1995 to 2024, according to KCTV.
The recent shooting incident is still under investigation by KBI and Winfield Police Department.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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