No arrests were immediately made.

Police released few details about the shootings, which happened about 6:30 a.m. Inspector Todd Milburn didn't respond to telephone messages from The Associated Press, but told the Star Tribune that three people were dead.

A Hennepin County crime lab van was parked outside the house where the shootings occurred. Police tape was stretched around the house, a gray split-level in a modest neighborhood with children's toys in the fenced backyard. A small group of people stood in the street several houses down, sobbing and hugging each other.

Records kept by the state Department of Human Services show the residential child care center was licensed for up to 12 children. The license holder, Delois Brown, was working under a license that would expire in February 2013. There were no indications of adverse rulings affecting the day care nor any special restrictions.