CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — After a shooting inside a Clay County home, two individuals have died, and two more have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds, according to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigators. 

Deputies arrived on scene of the shooting in the 3300 block of Pine Oaks Lane near Challenger Drive around 6:23 a.m. Monday.

Undersheriff Ron Lendvay said deputies found four people shot inside the home, one of them pronounced dead on the scene. 

The three others were taken to a nearby hospital where one, the shooting suspect, later died from his injuries.

Lendvay identified the suspect as 45-year-old Maurico Vasco Lopez, saying he entered the home and shot three other people.

One person inside the home shot back at Lopez, hitting him.

Lendvay refrained from labeling the event as a home invasion, stating that investigators are still attempting to ascertain Lopez’s potential connection to those inside the residence. 

It remains uncertain if the individual who shot back at Lopez was among the victims, as Lendvay mentioned that multiple people were inside the home during the incident. Lendvay noted that this person’s actions likely prevented further tragedy.

“It certainly could have been more tragic,” Lendvay remarked. “Someone in there helped save some folks, and I think we all owe that person a debt of gratitude.”

According to investigators, minors were present in the home at the time. However, Lendvay did not confirm whether any of the shooting victims were under 18, as they continue to examine all facets of the case.