INDIANAPOLIS -- Seven members of a family -- including three children -- were fatally shot execution-style in an Indianapolis home Thursday night, police said.

A manhunt was under way Friday morning for Desmond Turner, 28, of Indianapolis, who police identified as a suspect. Police said they had reason to believe he and at least one other person were involved in the slayings.

"We are aggressively searching for (Turner) now," Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears said at a press conference Friday morning.

Police said they went to the home after several people called 911 and reported shots being fired at about 10:15 p.m. Everyone in the house was dead when officers arrived, police said.

Among the victims were Alberto Covarrubias, 56; his wife; Emma Valdez, 46; and their sons Alberto Covarrubias, 11, and David Covarrubias, who was 8 or 9.

Also killed were Valdez's two adult children, Flora Albarran, 22, and Magno Albarran, 29; and Flora Albarran's son, Luis Albarran, 5.

Police said the children were found slain in the same bed, and that Flora Albarran -- who apparently had come to the home to pick up her son -- had walked in shortly before or as the slayings happened.

A friend of Flora Albarran's had driven her to the house and waited in a car while Albarran entered the residence, police said. The friend told police that she heard Albarran screaming and saying, "Don't do that! My child!"

Among the shooting victims were (from left): Alberto Covarrubias, 11; Alberto Covarrubias, 56; Luis Albarran, 5; Emma Valdez, 46; and David Covarrubias, who was 8 or 9.

Police said Albarran yelled to the friend to not enter the house. The friend told investigators that as Albarran was yelling the warning, a black male carrying a gun stepped onto the porch, and shots could be heard coming from the house.

The man re-entered the home, and eventually three or four black males ran from the back of the residence, the friend told police.

Police said they believed two people were involved in the slayings, but they had only the name of Turner as a suspect as of 6 a.m. Friday.

Investigators believe that whoever shot the seven did not have a close relationship with them, and that the assailant or assailants entered and left the home from the front, police said.

Police said they believe they know the motive in the slayings, but they declined to reveal it at Friday morning's press conference.

"We think we have a handle on it, but we don't want to commit ourselves and find out that wasn't it at all," Deputy Police Chief Tim Foley said.

Investigators didn't know whether the assailant or assailants took anything from the home, police said.

Police said Turner has a criminal record. He was sentenced to six years in prison -- two of which he served -- for a violent crime involving a weapon.

Many police officers were in the neighborhood Thursday night and Friday, talking to residents. Police said they hoped someone would have information on Turner's whereabouts.