'Horrific murder spree' leaves 5 dead in Kentucky

Five people, including a suspect, are dead after a string of killings Saturday in northeast Kentucky, authorities said.

Deputies in Johnson County, Ky., found two bodies in a home, then in the search for the suspect, Joseph Nickell, two additional people were found dead. Deputies say Nickell committed suicide.

"This has been a horrific murder spree," said Johnson County Sheriff Dwayne Price. "There are no words to describe the heartbreak in seeing four lives taken due to the actions of one man. I have worked in law enforcement for 34 years. This is one of the most disturbing acts of violence I have ever seen."

Deputies got a call about 3:30 p.m. about a shooting in a rural home near the city of Paintsville, Ky. After responding, they found two people who had been shot and killed in the kitchen, according to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

A witness identified the suspect as Nickell and gave a description of the car he fled in, deputies said.

Authorities throughout the area were on alert and cautioned that Nickell was armed and dangerous.

A 911 call about the car led deputies to a second home in Paintsville where they found two other people dead in an apartment. Nickell also was found dead as a result of suicide, Price said.

Paintsville is about 164 miles southeast of Louisville and 74 miles southwest of Charleston, W.V.

No information about a motive was released. None of the victims were immediately identified.

Price said deputies are continuing to investigate and asked for prayers for the families of the victims.