WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The family of Ethel Steele and her three children, who Winston-Salem Police found dead Tuesday, gathered Wednesday in disbelief. 

Tuesday afternoon officers responded to the family's Brookhill Drive residence to find the 40-year-old Steele dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Her three children, Sakendra Syann Steele, 9; Sakenya Syretha Steele 12; and Sakenlo Shawn Steele Jr., 14, were also found dead in the home with gunshot wounds. 

The Winston-Salem Police Department said, "Currently, no other subjects are being sought, and there is not an active threat to the community.”

Wednesday, members of Steele's family gathered at her home, and her aunt Wanda Robinson Caton spoke out to say the incident is not characteristic of the niece she knows.

Caton said Steele was a devoted single parent and travel nurse for Novant Health. 

"She cared for her family and her patients from the bottom of her heart. This was not representative the Ethel we know, her friends know, her or her teachers know,” she explained.

Steele also home-schooled her children.

Her brother Dmon Robinson described his nephew and nieces as outgoing and passionate about anime, dance and traveling.

"We have a cheerleader, van artist, also an anime artist," he said, pointing to pictures of the children hanging outside the home.

Steele's family also asked the public for privacy and to respect authorities as they continue their investigation.

The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is investigating the incident.