Eight dead in Florida shooting

Authorities in the US release this picture of the deceased suspect in Thursday night's mass murder-suicide in Florida.

Police in Florida say a grandfather indentified as Don Charles Spirit shot and killed his daughter and her six children, before committing suicide at his home in the town of Bell.

Officers say the children ranged in age from three months to ten years old.

Night-time video shows the scene blocked off surrounded by law enforcement.

Spirit had an extensive criminal history, including a conviction for possession of illegal weapons. In 2001 he shot his eight year old son dead in what was at the time believed to be a hunting accident.