Residents in Riverside were enjoying a quiet Sunday boating and fishing before the unthinkable happened. St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Riverside Police Department and Pell City Police Department responded to a call just before 10 a.m. about a man believed to be suicidal in a house on Depot Street.
The armed man shot himself on the front porch of the house in the presence of police, according to Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup.
"I just can't imagine what could push you that far. I mean everybody gets depressed," said Resident Anita Gillham. "I mean, when I lost my first son I just, I mean you're depressed but you just don't want to, I just can't imagine you want to do that. "
When police entered the home, they found 3 females inside the house dead with gunshot wounds. The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said all the victims were family members.
One of the victims was identified as 51-year-old Florence Diane Vance. The other two victims were a 16-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl.
The man was identified as William Huntoon Vance, 54, and police said he killed the three female victims before shooting himself.
"I just wish they wouldn't of, maybe gotten help or found some other way, I don't know the specifics of what happened but I could never even fathom killing my family," said Riverside Resident Blake Hill.
Blake Hill has a family of his own and it's tragedies like these that remind him of what matters most.
"When it happens that close to your home you realize what you care about the most and that's family for me," Hill said.
Riverside Mayor Rusty Jessup told ABC 33/40 he knew the family very well. He said they were good neighbors and never caused any trouble.
The investigation is being conducted by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office at this time.
Updates are expected to be made as more details become available.