Five people, including the suspect, are dead and three others are injured after a shooting at a birthday party early Saturday in northern Kentucky.
Officers responded to multiple calls of an active shooter at a residence in Florence around 3 a.m.
When officers arrived, shots were still being fired and there were two victims in front of the residence, Florence Police Chief Jeff Mallery said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.
Four victims were pronounced dead at the scene and three others were transported to a local hospital and are in stable condition. They are expected to make a full recovery, according to police.
“We’ve never dealt with this before. I know it has gone on throughout the nation, but this is the first time that we’ve had a mass shooting in Florence,” Mallery said. “It is very emotional.”
Mallery identified the four victims as 19-year-old Delaney Eary, 20-year-old Shane Miller, 20-year-old Hayden Rybicki and 44-year-old Melissa Parrett.
The shooter was identified as 21-year-old Chase Garvey.
The incident occurred during a birthday party for Parrett’s 21-year-old son.
Partygoers knew the suspect and identified him to officers, Mallery said. The suspect’s motive is still under investigation.
“I don’t believe he was invited to the party, but there is a relationship,” he said, adding that the preliminary investigation indicates that “he just showed up.”
Garvey fled the scene in a car, according to police. Officers tried to initiate a traffic stop but he continued to drive, leading to a pursuit. Mallery said police believe Garvey shot himself while driving and veered into a ditch.
Police found the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
An initial investigation revealed that the suspected acted alone, the Florence Police Department said. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its deputies responded along with Florence officers last night, but it is not conducting a separate investigation.
Florence is located about 12 miles southwest of Cincinnati, Ohio.
