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MAINZ, Germany — An elderly gunman opened fire on family members in southern Germany, killing his 65-year-old son. Another relative survived thanks to a cellphone and keys in his pockets.

The 88-year-old suspect fled the scene in the town of Westerheim but was found “near a creek” with a revolver and a pistol, police said in a statement issued Thursday.

A 42-year-old family member was loading tires and other items into his car when the gunman fired two shots at him, officials said. However, the bullets were stopped by a cellphone in the victim’s shirt pocket and keys in his pants pocket.

The suspect’s 65-year old son, who had heard the shots and approached the scene, was then fatally shot.

“Presently we do not know what the motive for the attack was,” police spokesman Christian Eckel told NBC News.