Four feared killed in Philadephia shootings

No fewer than four persons are feared killed after shootings in three communities near Philadelphia in what a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation says appears to be a domestic dispute.

The gunman shot and killed his former wife and then shot and killed other members of his family at a different location on Monday morning, the official said.

The law enforcement official initially said five people had been killed, but later changed that to say at least four people were dead.

A suspect had been barricaded at a home in Souderton, the law enforcement official said.

The shootings happened at several places in Montgomery County, said John Corcoran, deputy director of public safety there.

The first shooting happened just before 4am in Lower Salford Township, a community of about 15,000, according to CNN affiliate, WPVI.

It said one person was killed in that shooting and two others were killed in Lansdale, a nearby community of about the same size.

WPVI reported that two additional people were shot dead in Souderton.

Those communities are just north of Philadelphia.

Those reports could not be independently confirmed