FAIR LAWN -- A 53-year-old man killed his parents before turning the gun on himself Wednesday night, according to the medical examiner's office.

Police found the bodies of the Tempe family -- Rich Tempe, Sr., 76, Barbara Tempe, 73, and Rich Tempe, Jr., 53 -- when responding to a house fire on 4th Street shortly before midnight, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said.

All three had been shot and the fire was believed to have been intentionally set, Grewal said. The handgun believed to have been used was also recovered at the scene, but the prosecutor's office hasn't yet provided more detail on the type of gun.

Grewal said at a press conference on Thursday prior to the release of the medical examiner's findings "the matter is limited to a domestic event."

An official source said one firefighter was treated and released from the hospital for an injury sustained during the blaze.

Nelson and Princess Silva, who live with their three children on the same street, said they heard gunshots Wednesday night, but assumed they came from across the Passaic River in Paterson. They and other neighbors said they had never heard of the Tempes getting into a dispute before the shootings.

"No fighting, no arguing, no nothing," Nelson Silva Jr. said. "It's a shock for this area."

Pam Coles, who grew up next door to the Tempe house, said they were good neighbors, always willing to help her mother, who still lives next to the Tempe family home.

Rich Sr. was known to neighbors as "Big Rich" while Rich Jr. was "Little Rich." Barbara Tempe went by "Bobby," Coles said.

Chris Brice, 47, grew up with the younger Tempe and was once friendly with him. He said Rich Jr. had difficulty making eye contact and had few friends. He had once worked as a croupier in an Atlantic City casino, Brice said.

Rich Sr. worked for the Fair Lawn school district as a courier until retiring in 1999, Eugene Banta, president of the Fair Lawn Board of Education, said.

"He was well thought of and a good employee," Banta said. "We were all very sorry to hear of this tragedy."

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.