New Year's Day 'shooting' kills 4 in UK house

Four people were found dead in a house in northeast England after a suspected shooting on New Year's Day, police said on Monday.

Police discovered the bodies of one man and three females at the property in the small town of Peterlee after being alerted late Sunday, police said.

A shotgun was found lying next to the man's body. Police said all four were related or known to each other and they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the killings at this stage.

"The man is believed to be in his early 40s and while the ages of the female victims have not yet been established, it's thought the youngest was in her teens," said a statement from Durham Constabulary.

A 19-year-old woman, thought to be related to one of the victims, was treated for shotgun injuries in hospital and has been released, said police.

Labour party councillor Paul Stradling said the community was in shock after the "terrible news."

He said the area where the suspected shooting took place was "quiet most of the time with a little bit of anti-social behaviour but crime levels are usually low."

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