Police in North Carolina said they found four people dead Sunday near a homeless encampment in what authorities believe was an apparent murder-suicide.

The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies found the four victims — two men and two women — with fatal gunshot wounds around 9:30 a.m. near a rural encampment in Autryville.

The sheriff’s office told Raleigh CBS affiliate WNCN that the victims all died in a murder-suicide and that “there is no apparent danger to the public.”

Three of the victims were found outside of a tent, according to NBC affiliate WRAL-TV. Authorities didn’t say where the fourth victim was found.

Autryville is roughly 55 miles south of Raleigh.

The encampment was located on a long private road that had multiple large puddles.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.