Five Shot Dead, Including Three Children, in Livingston County Town

Authorities say they are not searching for a suspect in the deaths of five people found in a home small eastern Illinois town.

Livingston County Sheriff Martin Meredith says first responders found the five people dead in Emington after dispatchers received a call Friday afternoon. Meredith says residents are "safe from any harm'' and authorities are "not looking for anyone in this crime.''

The sheriff said Coroner Michael Burke would release the names of the victims once relatives are notified.

Livingston County board member Bob Young says a man, woman and three children were found dead. He says the children include an infant, a first-grader and a fourth-grader.

A neighbor says he heard two rounds of gunshots before another neighbor called police. Ronald Groetsema lives a street away from the Livingston County home. He says he heard six to eight gunshots on Friday afternoon.

Groetsema says about three minutes passed before he heard another four to six gunshots. He says he saw first responders and a woman's body with children.

Groetsema says the children got off the school bus with his son. He says the children were excited because it was the last day of school before Christmas. His wife Tricia says the children were "sweet little kids.