Retired US postal worker kills his fiancée and her two daughters (one aged 16 and her 19-year-old who was pregnant) before wounding another man and then turning the gun on himself

A retired US postal worker shot his fiancée and her two daughters – one of whom was pregnant – before turning the gun on himself during a horrific mass shooting in Ashland, Illinois.

The tragedy occurred on December 14, with another unidentified man reportedly shot in the home after gunman Ronald “Butch” Cobren Jr. opened fire.

Police say he caused the massacre at the family's dilapidated home near Springfield, Illinois, with first responders initially arriving on the scene to find pregnant 19-year-old Autumn Bell dead from a gunshot wound.

While walking through the house, officers found a man with life-threatening wounds, before subsequently discovering the bodies of Alaria Bell, 16, and Cobren's fiancée Christina Bell, 53.

Autumn Bell, 19, (left) and her sister Alaria, 16, (right) were both found shot to death in their home in Ashland, Illinois

The gruesome scene ended with police finding Cobren dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the unnamed male victim later telling investigators the shooter's name.

The mass shooting rocked the small town of only about 1,200 residents, Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn said. ABC7 that he personally knew everyone involved, including the shooter.

“Horrible acts of this magnitude strike at the core of every community,” Ohrn added.

Investigators said the tragic shooting occurred after reports that a person had been shot in the stomach.

Paramedics responded to the call and paramedics first discovered that Autumn was dead from a gunshot wound.

Tragically, Autumn had shared images of her ultrasound on social media just a month before her death, celebrating the upcoming birth of her first child with her boyfriend.

Police quickly determined that Cobren Jr. the shooter was, and said he was a long-time resident of the small community and a retired U.S. postal worker.

Investigators said he recently became engaged to Christina Bell, and their social media accounts feature several smiling selfies of the couple together.

The tragic shooting happened last month at the family's dilapidated home in Ashland, Illinois, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the city of Springfield.

Investigators say Cobren and Bell were recently engaged, and their social media accounts show the couple in several smiling selfies

Officers initially responded to reports of a man having been shot in the stomach, before tragically discovering the bodies of Christina (right) and her daughter Alaria (left) inside the home.

Just a month before her death, Autumn shared a photo of her ultrasound on social media as she celebrated the impending arrival of her first child

After discovering the family's bodies in their home, police say they found Cobren's car parked in nearby Jacksonville, Illinois, where the suspected gunman died after apparently turning the gun on himself.

Officials have not yet released any motive for the killings, and several law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Division, have launched an investigation.

Sherriff Ohrn said the shooting has shocked his community and felt there is a familiarity in a small town that “builds trust.”

“We're all going to get through this the Cass County way,” he continued.

'Providing support, care and remembrance. Be quick to shake hands or give a hug, and slow to criticize.

'Pray for the family and the many affected by these senseless acts of violence. Finally, if help is needed, reach out and always think of the victims.”

Autopsies will be conducted on Monday and officials stressed there is no further danger to the community.

Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn (pictured) said the senseless shooting had 'rocked the core of his community'

Tributes have been paid to the victims of the tragic shooting, with Daniel Castle, a close friend of several members of the family, saying on Facebook that he loved them 'with all my heart'.

“To be honest, I also considered Autumn one of my best friends and I will absolutely miss her for the rest of my life.

“Everyone here in Illinois has been so helpful and generous, so I'm posting to reach my friends and family out of state.

“Anything you can do: share, donate, pray if you are religious, and keep my friends, their families, those who are no longer with us and those who never had the chance to be, in your thoughts.”

He added that the man who was shot “saved lives” and is “still fighting.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family recover and pay for funeral costs, noting that “this family has suffered an unimaginable tragedy.”

“Chrissy, Alaria, Autumn and an unborn baby were tragically shot dead. The family needs this community and the surrounding communities to come together like never before and help them lay these three beautiful souls to rest.”