Five people including an eight-year-old are dead after a mass shooting with the gunman still at large.
Police have confirmed the shooting at a home in the Trails End area of San Jacinto County, Texas.
Two female victims were discovered in the bedroom lying on top of two surviving children, authorities have said.
Locals in the Cleveland, Texas, area are being told to “stay inside [and] stay clear” of the crime scene.
According to Sheriff Greg Capers, multiple victims, all from the same family, were found shot "execution style" inside the family home.
Police have said they had asked the suspect to stop firing his weapon because they were trying to get their baby to sleep.
A heavy police presence on the scene and law enforcement is still looking for the shooter.
The incident started out as a harassment call to 911 just after 11.30pm on Friday night.
Sheriff Capers said: "Night shift patrol deputies were dispatched to a residence in reference to a harassment complaint. While enroute, the communications centre received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location.
"Multiple deputies arrived at the residence and located multiple victims deceased in a resident and several others in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds."
The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened the search area to as much as "10 to 20 miles." He said Oropeza may still be armed.
Sheriff Capers said multiple people were found shot around the home with the ages of the victims raging from eight to 40.
Four died at the scene and the eight-year-old died after being flown to hospital.
When police arrived, they found two women dead at the front of the house, and a man dead in the living room.
Regarding the women, Sheriff Capers said: "In my opinion, they were actually trying to take care of the babies and keep them babies alive".
Three others were injured in the shooting and rushed to hospital. Their condition is not yet known. There were a further two people inside the home that were evaluated on scene and released.
Police have said they know who the shooter is but believe he is not still in the neighbourhood.
Sheriff Capers said: "The suspect...we don't believe him to be in the area.
"He's at least 10 to 20 miles away from here."
Police are searching for a Hispanic male, with blue jeans, a goatee, work boots, a black shirt, and black short hair.
The suspect may be armed with an AR-15 rifle and drunk, authorities said.
“The Mexican male subject, he has been known to shoot his 223 out in his front yard, which is evident by the shell casings that are laying in the front yard,” said the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office.
Montgomery County SWAT rushed to the scene and cleared several properties around the crime scene and believe he had fled the county.
The shooting in the community about 45 miles (72 kilometres) northeast of Houston was reported around 10.30 pm.
The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released by the police "pending notification of the next of kin."
An update from the Sheriff said: "This is still a very fluid scene and an active investigation. The Texas Rangers are currently on scene aiding with the investigation."
An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect and a $5 million dollar bond has been assigned.
