HILLIARD, FL – A 5-year-old girl fleeing a violent scene guided authorities to a grisly discovery Thursday night, prompting an investigation into what the local sheriff called a “heartbreaking” case of domestic violence that left three adults dead and one suspect critically wounded.

Deputies from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office responded around 8 p.m. to reports of a possible shooting at a home on West 12th Avenue in Hilliard, a quiet town near Florida’s northern border. Upon arrival, officers were unable to get a response from anyone inside the residence.

After finding the front door unlocked, deputies entered the home and immediately encountered a horrific scene. A woman lay motionless between the living and dining rooms, surrounded by blood. As law enforcement continued their search for possible threats, they found a man collapsed in the living room with an assault rifle beside him.

A further search of the residence led deputies to encounter another woman in the bathroom, where blood and evidence of severe trauma coated the walls and floor. In a nearby bedroom, a third woman was found in similar condition.

Authorities determined that the three women, whose names have not yet been released, were dead at the scene. The male suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Christopher Bobby Rowell, was found with a faint pulse and was transported by air to a Jacksonville hospital in grave condition.

Investigators pieced together a possible sequence of events: Rowell is believed to have first shot a woman in the common living areas, then moved to the bathroom and the bedroom, where he fatally shot two more women. After carrying out the shootings, he is thought to have returned to the living room and turned the gun on himself.

Amid the tragedy, the young girl managed to escape the home. According to statements given to deputies, she was in the back of the house when she heard gunfire. As she made her way through the hallway, she saw one of the victims on the floor. Another woman tried to protect her by placing her in the bathroom, but she was killed moments later, leaving the child spattered with blood.

The girl ran to a neighbor’s house, frantically alerting them that something terrible had happened inside her home. The neighbor immediately called 911, leading deputies to the scene. Authorities described the 5-year-old as “very brave” and “very strong,” noting she was safe in the care of relatives but deeply shaken by her ordeal.

The sheriff indicated the violence appeared to stem from a domestic dispute but withheld further speculation as the investigation continued. All the adult victims and the suspect were related, officials said.

As of Friday, Rowell was considered “clinically deceased,” and arrangements were being made for his organs to be donated, according to law enforcement. The names of the victims have not been made public pending notification of additional family members.

The impact of the crime was felt beyond the immediate household. A neighbor recounted how a stray bullet had struck her home during the incident, though it did not enter the living space. She expressed disbelief at the violence, noting that such events were virtually unheard of in their small Hilliard community.

Hilliard, located about 30 miles north of Jacksonville, is known for its quiet neighborhoods—a stark contrast to the grisly events that unfolded Thursday night. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to understand the full circumstances behind the tragedy.