Man in Washington state killed wife, 2 daughters and brother before killing himself, authorities say

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A man fatally shot his wife, their two adult daughters and his brother before killing himself at a Washington state home, authorities said Monday.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating the case as a murder-suicide.

Authorities received a call around 1 p.m. Sunday requesting a welfare check at a home in Vancouver, Washington. The person who requested the welfare check had received a text message from the suspected shooter indicating that he had “harmed others” at the home, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The message was sent more than four hours before the call for a welfare check was made but the person who requested the welfare check didn’t see the message until later, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The names and ages of the victims were not immediately released. Autopsies were pending.

Vancouver is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Portland, Oregon.