Two people were killed, and two others were critically hurt in a shooting Thursday morning at a Gaston County home, police said.

The Gaston County Police Department responded around 8:40 a.m. to reports of a shooting inside a home on Forbes Road.

Officers found four people suffering from gunshot wounds. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

The incident took place next door to Loretta Forbes, whose husband's grandfather built her home in 1914 and is the namesake of Forbes Road.

Forbes told Channel 9 that she did not hear the gunshots, but noted that she knows the residents who bought the house next door.

"I just kept saying, 'My God. Oh God.' coming down the stairs," Forbes said. "They seem to be very nice people. It just shakes you up to think that could happen so close by."

Forbes added that she had not seen the family on Thursday and was praying for them. "I want to know what's happened. I want to know about the family," she said.

Resident Brianna Crouse expressed shock over the violence in their community.

"It's absolutely nuts. I just can't believe it," Crouse said. "I can't believe it. There's never been anything bad happen on this road as far as I've been here."

Robert Cline, another area resident, echoed those sentiments. "There really ain't no trouble down here in south Gastonia," Cline said. "We're pretty well; people know each other."

Friends and colleagues of the residents also arrived near the scene searching for information.

Jennifer Greene, a friend and co-worker of the woman who lives at the residence, drove to the home after her colleague failed to report for shift.

"She actually works with me and didn't show up for work today. And I started to worry because she never doesn't show up," Greene said.

Nearby residents described the surrounding area as typically peaceful, noting that police officers are rarely seen in the neighborhood for anything other than traffic accidents.

Adam Baker, a neighbor who lives two blocks away, expressed anxiety over the uncharacteristic law enforcement presence.

"It's incredibly unusual. I mean it's a very quiet neighborhood," Baker said. "Not knowing what's going on now, yeah, it creates some concern."

Investigators have identified a person of interest and are working to determine what led to the shooting.

Police said they believe everyone involved knew one another and that the shooting was an isolated incident. There is no known ongoing threat to the Gaston County community.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective G. Lancaster at 704-866-3320 or Crime Stoppers at 704-861-8000.