GRAND HAVEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A Michigan man fatally shot his wife and six children on Friday and then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

According to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office, the shootings occurred south of Grand Haven Township. Autopsies revealed that Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, shot his family members, WOOD reported.

Deputies said he shot his wife, Amanda Karolkiewicz, 39, and their six children, according to the television station. He then turned the gun on himself and died from a gunshot wound.

Family members are remembering the mother and six children killed in a murder-suicide near Grand Haven. Mandy Karolkiewicz was funny, spunky and optimistic. Her children  all loved life,  a family spokesperson said.  They all loved adventure.  More: https://t.co/eDtbhaW5mZ pic.twitter.com/WSQ8fiM2L8 - WOOD TV8 (@WOODTV) July 28, 2026

 This is an unspeakable tragedy that we may never completely understand why it happened,  Ottawa County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jacob Sparks said Monday.  But we will do our best to find the answers and to honor the memory of those victims. 

Detectives believe Kristopher Karolkiewicz shot and killed his wife and six children before starting several fires throughout the home and then shooting himself, WXMI reported.

The names of the children were not released by investigators. Four of them were the couple's biological children, while the other two were adopted, according to the television station. Four of the children were boys, ages 15, 12, 11, and 5; the two girls were both 11 years old.

Autopsies revealed that all eight members of the family died from gunshot wounds, WOOD reported.

Deputies said fires were started in the basement and on the first floor of the residence, according to the television station.

Several family pets, including multiple dogs and at least one cat, also died in the fire, deputies said.

It was unclear what led to the shootings.

 We're trying to get answers about what happened leading up to the incident,  Sparks told reporters.  We believe this incident could've started the night before and the

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