5 killed in Polk County

Five family members — among them a 15-month-old child — were found dead of gunshot wounds Monday morning at a Polk County ranch, according to authorities.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies found two people inside a home and three more, including the child, outside in the 3600 block of FM 3126 around 10:30 a.m. after receiving a call of an assault.

A sixth person had been locked inside a bedroom during the killings and woke up around 5:30 a.m. to a commotion that police described as popping noises, said Byron Lyons, chief deputy of the sheriff’s office. She called her son, who then called the authorities.

The woman was not hurt. The slain were identified as Ashley Delaney and her husband, Randy Horn, as well as their child and the great-grandparents of the child, Carlos and Lynda Delaney.

The chief deputy declined to say whether the shooting was a murder-suicide.

A firearm was recovered from the home, which is about 75 miles northeast of Houston, and no suspects are outstanding, he said.

“This has been a rough day,” Lyons said during a news conference Monday night. “This is a horrible, horrific crime. I ask that the community pray for this family. This is something Polk County is not used to.”

The Texas Rangers also are investigating the shooting.