A man killed his sleeping 84-year-old mother and his 10-year-old son before taking his own life in Athens on Saturday, police said.

The shooter was publicly identified by police as William "Billy" Christopher. The man fatally shot 10-year-old Chevy Christopher and 84-year-old Betty Sue Christopher, Athens police said in a news release.

Athens officers and the Limestone County Coroner were dispatched to 17893 W. Market Street on Saturday morning.

"It was a difficult day for us, but it was an unbearable one for the family," said Athens police Capt. Trevor Harris.

Chevy spent the night with his father and grandmother on Friday, Harris said in a news release. On Saturday morning, Chevy's mother couldn't reach them by phone or get an answer at the door. The woman contacted a relative who brought a key and found the three bodies inside, Harris said.

"Investigators are working to establish a motive or cause for this tragedy," Harris wrote in the news release.

Chevy's parents married in Gulf Shores in 2009. The couple separated in April 2016, and William Christopher requested custody of Chevy, court records show. They settled their contested divorce and custody dispute in September 2016 by agreeing to joint custody, according to court papers.

"If you knew this sweet boy you know that he was so full of life and just had the most fun loving personality!" a family friend wrote on a gofundme account. "He didn't deserve to have his life cut short!"

Chevy's mother doesn't have insurance, the gofundme says. "...she just wants to do what she can for her baby one last time and she needs a little help. Thanks in advance for any donations and prayers will be greatly appreciated."