A Danville man shoots his family before killing himself

POLK CITY, FL. (WTVQ) – A man visiting Polk City Florida from Danville killed his nephew and shot his niece Saturday night before turning the gun on himself.

In a statement made Sunday, the Polk County Sheriff’s office spokesman said deputies found two men dead and one woman injured at a Polk City home Saturday evening.

Carolyn Stipe of Danville, Kentucky, identified the shooter as her husband, 68-year-old Rickie Gene Stipe.

Stipe told deputies her husband shot their nephew, 65-year-old james Hanks, and Hanks’ wife, 59-year-old Kathleen Hanks, before shooting himself.

According to the spokesperson’s statement, Stipe says her husband refused treatment for schizophrenia.

She told authorities her husband had been upset throughout the day, and he shot the other couple after James Hanks confronted him.

Authorities say Kathleen Hanks is hospitalized with a gunshot wound, and Stipe is hospitalized with chest pains.