Ted Schurter / AP

Police officials investigate the scene at a house in Manchester, Ill., on Wednesday where five people were found shot to death.

Police on Thursday identified the victims in the grisly shooting deaths of five people in a tiny south-central Illinois town the day before — but why they were gunned down remains a mystery.

A pregnant mother, father and their two young boys as well as a grandmother were identified as the victims in shooting rampage in a Manchester, Ill., officials said.

Illinois State Police / Reuters

Rick Odell Smith, 43, in and undated photo provided by police.

State police say the victims are: Brantley Ralston,1, Nolan Ralston, 5, and their parents James Ralston, 23 and Brittney Luark, 23. Jo Ann Sinclair, 57, Luark’s grandmother was also identified as among the dead.

Though investigators are still trying to determine what precisely took place, police have identified Rick Odell Smith, 43, as a suspect.

Police say Smith, carrying a shotgun, forcibly entered the family’s Manchester, Ill., home through a backdoor on Wednesday and gunned them all down.

Only a 6-year-old girl survived.

Smith, who is the nephew of Manchester’s mayor, is believed to have known the family but police have not provided details on his relationship and his motive is unknown.

Police say all the victims were shot at close range with a shotgun. Four were in their bedrooms and the father in the hallway. The 6-year-old was injured and taken to the hospital where she remains in critical condition.

"The offender took the 6-year-old out of the residence and put her in the hands of a neighbor," state police Lt. Col. Todd Kilby said.

Smith fled in a white sedan, was chased by police and at some point exited his car and pointed his weapon at officers and fired, according to a news release from Illinois state police. Officers shot Smith. He died later at a hospital.

Police say they found a rifle, shotgun and large hunting knife in Smith’s car.

It was the first homicide in Scott County Illinois since 1993, according to state police, and the first multiple homicide.

Related: Five people murdered in small Illinois town

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- A man allegedly skipping out on a restaurant bar bill became impaled on a fence he tried to hop, NBC station WHDH of Boston reported.

About 18 inches of the fence, including a spike that pierced the man’s leg, was removed and sent to the hospital with the man, WHDH reported.

The man was not identified, but the Manchester Union-Leader described him as a 30-year-old North Carolina resident.

Firefighters found the man outside Manchester’s Hilton Garden Inn, WHDH reported.

“He was actually in pretty good shape. He was texting and making phone calls. He was very cooperative,” said Lt. Max Chiasson, Manchester Fire Department, told WHDH.

It took eight firefighters to help free the man, WHDH said.

 “There were a few moments where things were getting moved around. There were some power tools being operated. He cringed a few times but for the most part he was just like, ‘Get me out of here,’” Chiasson told WHDH.

Firefighters and paramedics used saws, hydraulic cutting tools and a cutting wheel, the Union-Leader reported.

The man was lucky considering where he landed, as the fence missed arteries, ligaments and bones, firefighters told WHDH.

The man was reported in stable condition, WHDH said.

Police told WHDH the man was literally caught in the act of trying to run out of a bar after a fight over a bill.

More content from NBCNews.com:

• Hundreds search for missing young Iowa cousins
• Artist removes Joe Paterno's halo from Penn State mural
• 'English-only' city council proposal ignites debate
• New sketch released of suspect in shooting of lesbian teen couple
• Video: Couple lives in a 240 square foot apartment

Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook