A man with a history as a registered sex offender shot and killed his wife and four young children at their Kansas home before calling 911 to report the crime and then taking his own life, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

Ronald Williams, 53, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after law enforcement arrived at the residence in Winfield, Kansas, on Tuesday morning. Officers arrived around 11 a.m. after Williams called dispatchers to report that he had "killed" his family and intended to kill himself. A single gunshot was heard as police approached the property. Inside, they discovered six people with gunshot wounds.

Authorities believe Williams killed his wife, Kelly George, 44, and their children—Carol Williams, 9; Ronald Williams Jr., 7; Sarah Williams, 5; and Kelly Magee-Williams, 3—prior to making the 911 call.

Neighbors described the event as deeply disturbing. One neighbor, Ann Stofferan, told KWCH-TV, "Once I heard it was a whole family and children, it just made my stomach churn actually. And I just felt so sad and heartbroken for that family." Another neighbor reported hearing Williams say, "I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it, I'm going to call the cops and I'm going to do it," though the neighbor did not understand the comment at the time.

Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong stated that in his more than 20 years in the community, he could not recall anything remotely similar. He noted that police had previously responded to calls about "erratic behavior" from Williams, where he had confronted and yelled at people, but added that "nothing would have indicated where we are today."

According to the KBI, Williams had a history of convictions, including attempted indecent liberties in 1998 involving a 15-year-old girl. His registration as a sex offender was due to expire in July 2028. Court records also indicate past charges for battery, attempted rape, burglary, and drug offenses.

The KBI and Winfield police are continuing to investigate the incident. Resources for those affected by such issues are available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line.