A man who drove across the country to meet a teenage girl he was "catfishing" online shot dead her mum and grandparents.
Austin Lee Edwards, 28, was killed in a police shootout on Friday in Southern California after setting fire to the teen's house in Riverside before fleeing with the young girl.
The teen's grandparents - Mark Winek, 69, his wife, Sharie Winek, 65 - and the girl's mother, Brooke Winek, 38, were all found dead in the family home by police.
The suspect was shot dead just hours later after Edwards was located in the local area, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Edwards, who lived in North Chesterfield, Virginia, met the girl online and gained access to her personal information by creating a fake identity, which is known as "catfishing".
Police are still investigating the cause of deaths, after confirming the murders were under investigation.
In addition, the cause of the house fire remains under investigation but, according to police, it was “intentionally ignited”.
Authorities confirmed Edwards had started talking to the teenager online, and decided to drive from Virginia to Riverside and parked his car in a neighbour's driveway.
According to police, he then walked to the girl's home in the La Sierra South neighbourhood.
Edwards killed the girl's grandparents and mum before walking back to his car with the teenager, and fled the scene.
It is not known if Edwards killed the family members with the teen watching.
Cops were initially called to the girl's address in Riverside on Friday morning after receiving reports of a distressed girl getting into a Red Kia Soul with a man.
Police later revealed the two people getting in the car were the teenager and Edwards.
Just as cops were responding to the welfare concerns, they started to receive reports of a fire just a few houses away.
The Riverside Fire Department arrived at the flat on the first floor and three bodies were found, according to police.
Cops caught up with Edwards after he drove off with the teen in San Bernardino County, and he fired at officers before being shot dead.
The teenager was unharmed and placed into the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services.
Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said: “This is yet another horrific reminder of the predators existing online who prey on our children.
"If you’ve already had a conversation with your kids on how to be safe online and on social media, have it again. If not, start it now to better protect them.”
