Police in northern California have issued a nationwide manhunt for a Shasta County man who is a suspect in the triple homicide of his wife and two daughters.

Shayne Franklyn Miller, 45, of Shingletown is believed to be the prime suspect in the murder of his wife Sandy, 34, and two daughters Shelby, 8, and Shasta, 4. The killings occurred Tuesday night in a home Miller owns in Shingletown.

Deputies responded to a 911 call at 7:44pm on Tuesday and upon arriving at the home on the 28400 block of Alpine Way found the bodies of the three victims. The suspect had already fled the scene and police are currently searching for him, pursuing leads in the Northern California Region, according to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

According to a police description, Miller is a white male, 5'10", 200 pounds, with red hair and blue eyes. He is considered armed and extremely dangerous and may possibly have access to a cache of weapons. He is believed to be driving a gold 2010 Dodge Mega Cab Pickup with a camper shell, California license plate number 8Z75988. Police warn the public not to approach Miller if they see him but are asked to call 911 instead. Anyone with any information on this man or his whereabouts should call the Shasta County Sheriff's Office at (530) 245-6025.

Police and coroner's investigators have been on location at the house on Alpine Way since receiving the 911 call Tuesday night. At least five Sheriff's vehicles were reported at the scene last night and ambulances arrived at Miller's home at approximately 10:15pm, according to reports. Authorities remained there through the night and additional police officers were dispatched there early Wednesday morning. While the identities of the victims have been confirmed, the manner in which they were killed has not yet been made public.

The Record Searchlight of Redding has reported that several area schools have been placed on lockdown as a result of the murders and subsequent manhunt.

Among them, Black Butte Elementary and Middle Schools in Shingletown and Redding Christian School and Chrysalis Charter School in Palo Cedro. Officials at Junction School in Palo Cedro have ordered that all classroom doors are to be locked. Millville Elementary School is on what the Record Searchlight has described as "soft lock down." School officials are following developments in this story and it is expected that security measures will remain in place until Miller is apprehended.