A man who shot himself after killing three women on New Year's Day was a licensed holder of firearms, it has emerged.
The body of the man, named locally as taxi driver Michael Atherton, and those of the three women were found in "close proximity" downstairs in the semi-detached house in Greenside Avenue, Horden, Peterlee, after police were alerted to shots being fired shortly before 11.45pm on Sunday night.
Police confirmed that a teenage woman who suffered minor injuries escaped through an upstairs window. Other people in the house at the time also survived, including a man who was initially arrested but later released without charge, police added.
One of the dead women was named locally as Susan McGoldrick.
Police did not release the names of the victims, but Durham Police assistant chief constable Michael Banks told a news conference that a resident at the address was the "lawful holder" of shotgun and firearms licences.
He said these were for three shotguns and three "section one" firearms, a category requiring greater authorisation than a shotgun licence.
The revelation is likely to spark renewed debate over whether to further tighten Britain's gun licensing laws.
Police could not confirm at this stage whether any of those lawfully held weapons had been used in the shooting, Mr Banks said.
"This is a tragic event. We have four people who died late last night and our thoughts and feelings are with their family and friends at this moment," he said.
"I would like to reassure our communities that the police are in control of this incident. At this moment, we are looking for no-one else in relation to this inquiry."
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