Three people were killed when a gunman launched a surprise attack that was witnessed by several children at a home in eastern Tennessee on Sunday, according to The Guardian.

The suspect, 19-year-old Robert Seth Denton of Bristol, was shot by a family member inside the house while he was making a run for it. He was eventually captured by the authorities a short time later.

Two women were discovered in the kitchen. They sustained gunshot wounds and were declared dead on the scene. Meanwhile, a man with gunshot wounds was found in the front porch and was airlifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and died, according to The Tennessean.

A half-dozen children were present and witnessed the entire shooting spree. A girl ended up getting injured, but the injury was non-life threatening.

"From what I've seen and heard, he just took 'em by surprise. It just all happened real fast," Sheriff Wayne Anderson said.

Denton was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and felony reckless endangerment. As it turns out, the suspect was related to the victims, Anderson said, according to ABC News.

Investigators are still trying to determine a possible motive. Denton was taken to a local hospital to have his wounds treated before he was sent to prison, the sheriff's office said.