US: Seven of a family shot dead in an apartment

Seven people believed to be related had opened their Christmas gifts and started cleaning up the wrapping paper when they were shot to death in an apartment near Fort Worth, Texas, police said on Sunday.

Authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead, but got a warrant before doing a full search on the small chance that it was otherwise.

Four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found in an adjoining kitchen and living room area when police entered the apartment around midday, said Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling.

Two handguns were found near the bodies in the apartment that was decorated for the holiday with a tree, he added.

The victims have not yet been identified. Eberling said that authorities still don't know what sparked the incident.

"It's the, probably the worst investigation that we've had to, you know, investigate, in, you know, many years," Eberling said.

"This is something that is very tragic and you know, regardless on what day of the year it happens on, it's something that is very unfortunate, but it's certainly amplified, given the fact that it is Christmas today."

Investigators believe that all the victims were related, but that some were only visiting and didn't live in the apartment. Police are looking for other relatives to inform.

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m. (17:30 GMT), Eberling said.

"There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained.

So police went into the apartment.

The unit is at the back of the complex.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around.