WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A man apparently killed his wife and three children before shooting himself dead in a home in Maryland, U.S. police said on Saturday.

    Frederick County sheriff Charles Jenkins told a press conference that police arrived at the scene at a call early on the morning, and found five bodies inside the residence in the first block of Washington Street.

    The 34-year-old father, who was identified as Christopher Wood, may have slashed at least some of his members in the killings and turned the gun to himself at the foot of the bed.

    "These are horrific incidents," said the police officer, adding some of victims suffered "severe lacerations and cut wounds."

    According to police, Wood and his wife, Frances Billotti Wood just moved to Maryland five months ago with their children, who were between 4 to 5 years old.

    Their neighbors told reporters that the family was actively involved in the community and nobody could see such a tragedy coming.

    The bodies have been already transferred to Baltimore for autopsies and their home been secured for further investigation into the case, police added.