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The teen assisted investigators in recovering the handgun, which authorities say he tossed after the killings. Later on Tuesday, investigators said they had located the handgun by the side of a road.

It was not immediately clear who the gun belonged to or how it had been obtained. Young said the handgun was in the home illegally.

Officials at Elkmont High School asked for prayers for the school and community.

Young called the killings a \"tragedy.\"

\"Unfortunately we are here to discuss a tragedy on a scale that we are not used to here in Limestone County,\" Young said at the press conference. \"It's important that you understand this is a community that has a lot of healing to do right now.\"

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