Amid Unprecedented Protests, Alabama Suffers Gruesome Mass Shooting and Arson

As much of the nation is glued to the television, watching frightening of unprecedented scenes unfold before their very eyes, Alabamians are receiving an extra dose of grim news this week.

The incident took place near Huntsville, Alabama, just days after a tense standoff between police and protesters devolved into chaos after a seemingly deranged man pulled a gun on the anxious crowd.

An investigation was underway in Alabama on Friday after sheriff’s deputies responding to a call about a shooting late Thursday discovered seven bodies, according to reports.

Upon arrival at the home in Valhermoso Springs, south of Huntsville, Morgan County sheriff’s deputies found part of the home on fire, AL.com reported.

After the blaze was extinguished, they located the bodies of the victims, who included males and females, the sheriff’s office wrote in a Twitter message — but no ages or identities were disclosed.

Authorities later said the victims were four men and three women, AL.com reported.

The gruesome event is still bewildering authorities.

“It is a horrific scene and to be able to process it will take some time,” Officer Mike Swafford of the sheriff’s office told a local TV news station. “We don’t have a motive at this time. We don’t have a determined suspect at this time. Investigators are following leads to piece together exactly what happened and who was involved. We can say we don’t believe there is an active threat to anybody in the area.”.

Local residents have told reporters that the neighborhood in which the shocking scene was discovered was known for drug activity and that police had been frequent visitors in the past.