A homicide investigation is underway in the city of Doral, Florida, after authorities found four people dead inside a residence located in a gated community in western Miami-Dade County.

Among the victims are two adults and two minors, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO), which took over the case after the discovery occurred Tuesday night, according to NBC.

The discovery occurred during a welfare check

According to authorities, Doral Police officers responded around 7:32 p.m. to a home located in the area of ​​Northwest 111 Court and Northwest 72 Terrace, within the Catalina neighborhood of the Doral Isles community.

The intervention came after a call requesting a welfare check.

Upon entering the residence, officers found an adult man, an adult woman, and two girls unresponsive.

Paramedics from the Miami-Dade Fire Department responded to the scene and confirmed the death of the four people.

Detectives from the Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit later took over the investigation.

The news generated shock among the residents of Doral Isles, one of the best-known and exclusive developments in the city.

"I was very surprised because it is a very safe community. We don't understand what happened," a neighbor identified as Chelo Paredes told WSVN.

"I'm very sad. Everyone in the community is sad," he added.

Although the authorities have not officially confirmed the relationship between the victims, neighbors consulted by local media indicated that they were the same family.

School confirms the death of two students

On Wednesday morning, the academic director of Downtown Doral Charter Schools, Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg, sent a communication to parents informing them of the death of two elementary school students.

In the message he expressed his condolences to the family members, colleagues and educational staff affected by the tragedy.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, our teachers and staff at our elementary school, where they were currently studying, and at our high school,” the board said.

Likewise, he reported that specialized grief counselors would be available to provide emotional support to students and campus workers.

The school did not identify the minors nor expressly confirm that they were part of the criminal investigation, although the temporal coincidence has generated concern among parents and members of the educational community.

Authorities remain secretive about the case

So far, investigators have not released the identities of the deceased, their exact ages or possible causes of death.

It has also not been reported if there are suspects or if the authorities have any preliminary hypotheses about what happened inside the home.

By Wednesday morning, there was no visible police presence in the neighborhood, although detectives continue to gather evidence and interview potential witnesses.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office remains open to the investigation and has not offered additional details about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.