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Teen said he killed 3 relatives, 2 dogs, before turning gun on himself, authorities say

ARANSAS PASS, Texas — A 15-year-old boy said he shot and killed three of his relatives and posted images of the grisly scene online before turning the gun on himself, according to police and multiple reports.

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Authorities from multiple agencies began to investigate Wednesday after learning about graphic images the boy had shared on Discord and threats that he made against an unspecified area school, according to Aransas Pass police and the Corpus Christi Caller Times.

Investigators tracked the boy down at an RV park he was living in and asked him to come out. He refused, and officers heard “a single gunshot and the thud of a person falling to the ground,” police said.

Inside the RV, authorities found four people, including the boy, and two dogs dead.

Officials identified the boy as William Quince Colburn III, the Caller Times reported. San Patricio County Sheriff Oscar Rivera identified the other victims, who had also been shot to death, as 63-year-old William Colburn Jr., 53-year-old Janna Colburn and 13-year-old Emma Colburn, according to The Associated Press.

The exact relationship between William Quince Colburn III and the victims was not immediately known, although police said he identified them online as family members.

Police praised Discord and juveniles who saw images posted by William Quince Colburn III, for quickly reporting the incident.

“Had it not been for their speedy action and continued support, we might well have been working on an even more tragic event later this morning,” police said in a statement. “Thank you.”

It was not clear what school the teen had planned to target. Rivera told the Caller Times that the boy was homeschooled and that he didn’t name a specific school in his threat.

“I’m not sure which school he planned to attack but he certainly had the weapons and ammunition to do so,” Rivera said, according to the AP. The sheriff added that the teen had at least two guns and a rifle.

Authorities continue to investigate.