John Bacon

USA TODAY

A gunman shot four people in a Florida home Monday and then began randomly shooting people on a nearby street before being subdued by police officers, Sanford police said.

A woman in the home was killed and an adult and two children, ages 7 and 8, were rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police spokeswoman Bianca Gillett said. She said the initial shootings appeared to be domestic in nature. Two people were shot on the street a short time later.

"The scene was one of the worst scenes our investigators have ever walked into," Gillett said of the home. "It was horrific."

The suspect was identified as Allen Cashe, 31. Before the shootings, Cashe and a woman became involved in an altercation at a gas station involving "property," Gillett said. Police were called, calmed both people down and left the scene. A short time later, police received a 911 call asking for an officer to check on the woman, so the officer went to the woman's home and quelled another argument between Cashe and the woman, Gillett said.

Gillett said Cashe left but returned shortly after 6 a.m. and shot two adults and two children in the home.The gunman then fled to a nearby intersection where he "seemingly opened fire on two innocent bystanders that were walking down the roadway."

Two people, including a Winter Springs High School student waiting for her bus, were wounded on the street. Gillett said a police officer heard the shooting and followed the suspect. Multiple officers took the shooter into custody, she said.

Seminole County schools Supt. Walt Griffin said the three youths who were shot were students at his schools. He said grief counselors would be available for students Tuesday.

"Our hearts go out to families of these young and innocent children," Griffin said.

Arlene Bush told the Orlando Sentinel she heard about a dozen gunshots early Monday and ran out of her home. She said she saw a neighbor on the ground and called 911.

“When I looked at that man, I didn't known if he was going to make it,” she told the Sentinel, adding that the children who were shot were best friends with her kids. “These little boys didn't ask for this."

Sanford, a central Florida city of more than 55,000 people, made news around the world five years ago when black teenager Trayvon Martin was fatally shot by Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Then-police Chief Bill Lee was fired four months later amid criticism for his handling of the case.