Four children and their mother were among those killed as investigators examine an apparent murder-suicide at a Winfield home.
WINFIELD, KS — Six members of a family, including four children younger than 10, were found dead Tuesday inside a Winfield home after a man called 911 and reported that he had killed his family and intended to die by suicide, authorities said.
Police identified the man as Ronald H. Williams Sr., 53. The five other people killed were Kelly L. George, 44, and the couple’s four children: Carol A. Williams, 9; Ronald H. Williams Jr., 7; Sarah K. Williams, 5; and Kelly M. Magee-Williams, 3. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said it believes Williams killed the five family members before making the emergency call and then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after officers arrived.
Winfield Police Chief Robbie DeLong said dispatchers received the call at about 8:50 a.m. Tuesday. Officers were already nearby handling another incident and quickly responded to the home in the 400 block of West Ninth Avenue, near Stewart Street. As the first officer approached the residence, a single gunshot was heard from inside, DeLong said. With no confirmation at that point about what had happened inside, officers withdrew and treated the situation as a barricade incident.
Police established a perimeter around the home while officers worked through the response. Authorities eventually entered through the front door at about 10:57 a.m. and found all six people dead. Assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation was requested shortly afterward. Jason Diaz, a special agent in charge with the KBI, said investigators believe the information Williams provided during the 911 call accurately described what had already happened inside the home. Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public.
The deaths left residents in the south-central Kansas community struggling to understand what had happened. Ann Stofferan, who lives a few houses from the scene, said learning that an entire family and several young children had died left her heartbroken. “I heard what happened, and once I heard it was a whole family and children, it just made my stomach churn, actually,” Stofferan said. “And I just felt so sad and heartbroken for that family.”
Another nearby resident, Tonya Asbury, said she was troubled by questions about whether the deaths could have been prevented. “I hate to say it, but somebody failed,” Asbury said. “Somebody in this community failed that family.” Another woman who lives nearby told reporters she had previously heard Williams make a troubling statement to George but said she did not understand at the time what he meant. Investigators have been speaking with neighbors as they work to determine what led to the killings.
DeLong said police had received several calls involving Williams in recent weeks over what the chief described as erratic behavior, including reports that he confronted people and yelled at them. DeLong said those earlier contacts did not give officers an indication that an event of this scale was coming. He said that in more than 20 years of law enforcement work, he could not remember handling anything remotely similar in Winfield.
A motive for the killings had not been determined as of Wednesday. Investigators continued processing the scene and gathering information about the events leading up to the deaths. Authorities have not announced evidence establishing why Williams allegedly killed George and the children, and officials have cautioned against speculation while the investigation remains active.
The deaths have also prompted outside organizations to offer assistance to the Winfield community. The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation said Wednesday that it was extending its Community Crisis Response Initiative to the area, offering connections to counseling and other support for children, families, educators and first responders affected by the violence.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Winfield Police Department continue to investigate the shooting. Officials have said there is no ongoing danger to the public, while residents mourn George and the four children and investigators work to answer the central unresolved question of what led to the family’s deaths.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 12, 2026.