KINGS CREEK, N.C. -- Two deputies wounded in a Caldwell County incident are home recovering from their injuries.

The suspected gunman, who also shot an 8-year-old girl and her father, was found dead from a gunshot wound after deputies fired back.

The shootings happened early Thursday morning in the Kings Creek community. Investigators said the entire incident was sparked by a dispute over a dog.

Andra Tolbert, a neighbor, told Eyewitness News reporter Dave Faherty that the suspected gunman’s dog attacked two children two years ago. Investigators confirmed this for Eyewitness News.

Tolbert said that early Thursday morning, the children’s father shot the dog, and the animal’s owner fired back, hitting the father and one of his daughters.

Deputies said they were called to the home on Grandin Road just before 11 p.m. Wednesday because of the argument over the dog.

When the first officer arrived, he was shot outside the home, deputies said. A second officer arrived to help the first officer.

While three other officers tried to get the father and his two daughters away, a second officer was shot. At that point, the two remaining officers fired back at the gunman.

Eventually, a SWAT team was sent in to get the father and his daughters away from the area safely.

One deputy was airlifted out of the Hickory Airport to Carolinas Medical Center. That deputy was released later Thursday. The other was treated and released from Caldwell Memorial Hospital.

Emergency officials said the girl was taken to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Her father was airlifted out of the Hickory Airport to Carolinas Medical Center. Neither of their conditions have been released.

The suspected gunman was found dead at about 6:30 a.m. in his yard near Kings Creek Elementary School. Deputies said it appears the shooter died from a gunshot wound that was not self-inflicted.

The State Bureau of Investigation is now investigating the shooting, as is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Classes at the Kings Creek Elementary School were delayed until 11 a.m. as crews wrapped up their investigation.

Libby Brown, the community services director for Caldwell County Schools, said school officials got the call about the situation early Thursday morning. School officials then started making plans at around 3 a.m. to delay classes as teams searched for the gunman.

Brown said school officials decided at 5 a.m. to delay classes for three hours, starting at 11 a.m. Faculty and staff were also asked to stay at home since the parking lot was full of deputies, investigators and SWAT teams.

Extra counselors will be brought in to the school, Brown said. She said any time there is an emergency at schools which could stress or upset students, counselors are brought in.

The names of the victims and the suspected gunman have not been released.