In a horrific chain of events, a father from central Pennsylvania reportedly shot and killed his 2-year-old son and then wounded his estranged wife during a custody exchange on Saturday morning prior to taking his own life, authorities said.

The Clarion Ledger stated that Kenneth Ayers also shot at his very own mother during the altercation at her home, which is located in a rural area roughly 20 miles southwest of State College.

According to Huntingdon County District Attorney George Zanic, Ayers, 52, was the reason behind a protection from abuse order that was filed by his wife, Hollie Jo Ayers, but was still allowed to visit his son, Michael.

The visit on Saturday was supposed to occur at his mother's home in Barree Township. However, once at the house, Ayers got into an altercation with Hollie Jo and fired shots at her legs and arm with a .40 caliber handgun prior to fatally shooting his son, police said.

Ayers was then said to put the child's body inside the back of his vehicle, but the wounded mother got to the body before he shot her once again in the face. He also allegedly aimed at his mother but missed.

"Words can't describe the scene ... heartbreaking," Zanic told the Altoona Mirror.

The dead body of Ayers was located several hours later inside his parked truck in a wooded area in Warriors Mark Township. Investigators said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Hollie Jo was taken to a hospital and expected to survive the horrific ordeal, the police said.

State police Cpl. Daniel Sneath said that investigators are attempting to find out what the motivation was behind the shooting and why Ayers was carrying a weapon and not adhering to the protection order.

Police will be conducting an autopsy on Ayers to determine whether or not the shooter was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.

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