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As police investigated why a sheriff's deputy killed six young people, the family of the killer said Monday that they felt "a tremendous amount of guilt and shame" and had no insight into why he went on the Sunday rampage.

While a friend of one victim said Tyler Peterson, 20, was angry because his ex-girlfriend was with the group, police said that Peterson and the others had gotten into "some kind of dispute" late Saturday night at an apartment where a group had gathered.

Peterson, off-duty from his full-time job as a Forest County deputy sheriff, then left to get his rifle, police said. A few minutes later, he forced his way back into the apartment and fired 30 rounds, said J.B. Van Hollen, the state’s attorney general.

Killed in the rampage were six people who were either students or graduates of Crandon High School. They were at the house to share pizza and watch movies during the school’s homecoming weekend. A seventh victim survived but was in critical condition.

Police did confirm that Peterson's ex-girlfriend was among the victims.

Peterson, who was also a part-time Crandon police officer, fled. He was later found at a residence in the nearby town of Argonne. In phone conversations with law enforcement after he fled, he identified himself as the shooter, officials said.

Though he exchanged gunfire with officers, it was not clear how he was killed, Van Hollen said. An autopsy was being conducted Monday, and authorities hoped it would tell them more.

The rifle used in the shootings is the type used by the sheriff’s department, but investigators have not confirmed that the rifle he used came from law enforcement.

Gunman's parents: 'We are grieving'
Peterson's parents, through a pastor, released a statement telling the victims' families that "we are grieving for your losses" and "feel a tremendous amount of guilt and shame."

“We may never receive the answers we all seek,” they said. “Like those close to Tyler we are in shock and disbelief that he would do such terrible things. This was not the Tyler we knew and loved.”

The rampage raised questions in the remote northern Wisconsin community about how Peterson could have met requirements to become a law enforcement officer. No psychological testing was performed, but he had undergone other background checks and completed all required training by the state, authorities said.

“We had no idea, obviously, that anything like this would ever occur,” Crandon Police Chief John Dennee said. “Once we realized that he was our suspect, he was no longer a cop.”

David Franz, 36, who lives with his wife two houses from the duplex where the shooting occurred, said it was hard to accept that someone in law enforcement was the gunman.

“The first statement we said to each other was, ‘How did he get through the system?’” Franz said. “It is disturbing, to say the least.”

Dennee said an inquiry would be handled by the state Department of Criminal Investigation because the suspect was a deputy and officer.

Classmates grieve
Classes at the high school were canceled Monday, and about 100 people — mostly teens — went to a local church to meet with counselors. Many walked in with their arms around each other for support; some were crying.

The victims were identified as Jordanne Murray, Katrina McCorkle, Leanna Thomas, Aaron Smith, Lindsey Stahl and Bradley Schultz. Autopsies were scheduled to be completed Monday.

The lone survivor, Charlie Neitzel, 21, was upgraded to serious condition and was improving Monday at St. Joseph’s Hospital, hospital spokeswoman Karla David said.

Schultz, 20, was a third-year criminal justice major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who hoped to be a homicide detective, said an aunt, Rose Gerow. He was home visiting friends and appeared to have died trying to protect one, said another aunt, Sharon Pisarek.

“We still don’t have many details, but from what they’ve told us, there was a girl next to him and he was covering her, protecting her,” Pisarek said, sobbing. “He was loved by everybody. He was everybody’s son. Senseless.”

Murray loved children and hoped to be a day care provider, said Sally Maxon, whose daughter had been best friends with Murray since they were in kindergarten.

“She’s a very, very wonderful person, the nicest girl you’d ever want to meet,” said Maxon, who described her daughter as a nervous wreck after the shootings.

The town of about 2,000 people made headlines in August when community groups and a soldier helped bring an Iraqi girl to the United States for a cornea transplant. Mayor Gary Bradley pleaded Monday for support to help the town begin to heal.

“This is something we have to put back together,” he said.