A Rhode Island father fatally shot his 4-year-old son before turning the gun on himself in what police described as an apparent murder-suicide.

Authorities said Seamus Dempsey, 33, killed Liam Dempsey, 4, at their home in Warwick, Rhode Island, WPRI-TV, WJAR-TV, and The Providence Journal reported.

A motive remains under investigation.

Dempsey's wife called 911 Thursday morning after she found her husband and son shot to death, police said.

Investigators said it appeared Dempsey killed Liam before taking his own life.

The suspect's 79-year-old mother was in the home at the time of the shootings. She was physically unharmed, according to police.

Superintendent Lynn Dambruch confirmed the victim was a preschool student in the Warwick Public School District, according to WPRI.

School district committee chairman Shaun Galligan said, in part, "Today is a dark day for our school district, and it will be a tough few days for many," the station reported.

He added, "However, take solace in knowing that we are a resilient school system supported by an incredible community, and that we have weathered similar instances in the past, and we will do so again."