11:00am update

Authorities have found nine people dead in six separate crime scenes in two southern Missouri counties.

Highway Patrol spokesman Jeff Kinder said a juvenile girl heard gunshots in her home in the Texas County town of Tyrone and ran to a neighbor’s house to call law enforcement.

“Responding deputies found two deceased persons at this residence. Further investigation revealed five additional victims who were deceased and one additional victim who was wounded in three additional residences,” said Kinder.

The names of the dead are not being released while family members are still being contacted. The County Coroner told Missourinet affiliate KTTS the victims ranged in age from their 40s to their 60s.

Authorities believe a 36-year-old male, who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a vehicle in Shannon County, murdered 6 people and wounded one other. An elderly woman was also found dead but is believed to have died of natural causes.

Earlier story:

Nine people have reportedly been killed in multiple crime scenes in and around Texas County in south-central Missouri.

The state Highway Patrol tells Missourinet affiliate KTTS eight people were murdered and the apparent killer was found dead in Shannon County.

Sheriff James Sigman tells the Houston Herald four of those crime scenes are in the town of Tyrone and there are possibly two others outside his county.

The Herald reports that the Houston School District has informed staff to arrive early to work for counseling sessions.

A media conference has been rescheduled for 9:00 this morning while law enforcement continue to notify relatives of the deceased.

Don Louzader reports