Five people were dead, including the gunman, after a shooting in a housing development in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, that also left two children injured, police said.

Authorities arrived at a housing complex in Douglasville, west of Atlanta, after receiving a police call around 3pm on Saturday, said Lieutenant Glenn Daniel of the Douglas county sheriff’s office.

Daniel said a man came to a house and shot his ex-wife and several children. Police were still working to identify the victims and confirm their relationships, he said.

The shooter, whose name has not been released, is believed to have shot himself dead, Daniel said.

Daniel said he did not know when the couple divorced or whether the family had prior contact with police. “I’ve been in law enforcement out here 20 years and this is the worst I’ve ever seen.”

He said neighbours had apparently heard or seen the shooting and came outside to assist the victims until rescuers arrived. Some victims appeared to have been shot inside the residence while others were apparently shot outside.

The names of the suspect or the victims have not been released because their family members have not yet been notified.

Investigators obtained a warrant to enter the home, now surrounded by crime scene tape, so they could take evidence from the crime scene.

Kenya Beyah, who lives about four doors down from the home where the shooting began, left flowers at the scene on Saturday evening. She didn’t know the family but said she saw kids playing outside from time to time, she said.