A 10-year-old girl is left without parents after deputies said the girl's father and mother were killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

According to reports, a man called 911 from a home Conornerstone Drive in Lakeland and claimed that shots were fired and deputies needed to come to the house. The man then placed the phone down with the call still in progress, and a gunshot was heard. There was no further response from the man.

When deputies arrived to the home, they found the girl, who lives with her parents, 45-year-old James "Kevin" Denny and 41-year-old Jennifer Denny.

The girl, who was crying, told deputies that her parents' bedroom door was locked. She said she heard gunshots but could not get in.

Deputies found Jennifer and Kevin, both dead from gunshot wounds, in the master bedroom.

An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, however deputies believe Kevin fatally shot his wife Jennifer, and then fatally shot himself with a handgun.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the reason for the murder-suicide.

Deputies said Kevin Denny was the planning director for Hardee County and Jennifer did not work.

The couple had no prior domestic violence history. Kevin has no criminal history; Jennifer has two prior arrests from 2001, nothing violent. There are no prior calls for service at the home, which they have rented for the past couple of years.

The 10-year-old attends Spessard L. Holland Elementary School in Lakeland. She is in DCF custody at this time, and DCF will likely place her with her grandparents, who live in the area.

"This is a tragedy of monumental proportions. Please keep (her) and her family members in your prayers during this difficult time," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.