Greg Toppo

USATODAY

Police in Kansas were searching for a suspect after three people were found dead on Sunday outside a home near Hesston, a rural area about 35 miles northwest of Wichita.

Authorities said an 18-month-old baby was found alive inside the home.

The Kansas Highway Patrol on Sunday said there was no active search for a suspect, KWCH-TV reported, but police on Monday said they were searching for a suspect. None was immediately identified, KAKE-TV reported.

Harvey County Sheriff Townsend Walton said he couldn't provide any details on a possible motive for the killings.

In a statement, police in Newton, located in rural Harvey County, Kansas, said the shooting was reported around 5:30 p.m. local time, when Harvey County 911 received a call from a motorist who had been flagged down and told about the shooting.

Walton called the shooting "a targeted event," adding, "I believe everybody is safe right now."

One of the victims, a male, was in his 50s, The Hutchinson News reported. The other two, a male and female, were believed to be in their mid-30s.

The baby, who was not hurt, belonged to the couple, police said.

The victims’ identities were not immediately released.

The Hutchinson News reported that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation had been asked to assist in the investigation.

Follow Greg Toppo on Twitter: @gtoppo