COLUMBUS, Ohio » A man shot and killed a couple and their 7-year-old son and wounded their 12-year-old daughter in their Columbus, Ohio, home Monday before being fatally shot by police responding to the scene, police said.

The suspect was shot by three officers after a short chase outside the home where the shootings happened, Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said.

It was unclear what led to the shooting in the Hilltop neighborhood on the city’s west side.

"I don’t know if this was a home invasion, if he was let into the house, if they knew the suspect," Weiner said, speaking up the street from where numerous police cars sat, lights flashing. "That’s all of the questions that the investigator is going to be asking."

Suspect Barry Kirk, 50, was taken to nearby Mount Carmel West Hospital where he died hours later. The 12-year-old was taken to Columbus Children’s Hospital where her condition was unknown.

Police responded shortly after 5 p.m. to a report of a shooting when they saw the suspect. They shot him after a foot chase, Weiner said. A weapon was found near the suspect, he added.

Police didn’t discover the family until after the suspect was shot and they entered the home.

The victims were identified as 31-year-old John Anderson II, 30-year-old Christina Anderson and their son, 7-year-old Landon Anderson. Weiner didn’t give the name of the 12-year-old girl.

A fifth person was taken from the house uninjured.

A man who described himself as a family friend said Anderson had lived in the neighborhood about 10 years and was a hard worker who just started a pavement sealing business. Anderson was friendly and always willing to help people, said Jeff Drown.

"He’s just a good kid," said Drown, 51. "He don’t get into trouble. He don’t bother nobody. He just raised his family. And now he’s gone."

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This story has been corrected to show that when the suspect was initially shot, he didn’t die at the scene. Police said he died at a hospital hours after being shot.