Eight people are dead and one is seriously injured after a series of shootings across western Turkey's Afyonkarahisar province on Thursday, because nothing says "coordinated attack" like spreading the carnage across multiple villages and vehicles.

Authorities say victims were found in several locations, with three killed near Ayazini village and three others near Kiyir village, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. In Yukaritandir, two women were found injured and later died in hospital. Among the dead were two teachers, because apparently even educators aren't off-limits in whatever this was.

The suspect initially fled, triggering a manhunt that eventually ended with his arrest in Eskişehir province. Turkish media published CCTV footage showing a man in a black jacket, white trousers, and glasses clutching a long weapon beside a red minivan - a description that sounds less like a fugitive and more like a very specific Halloween costume.

Police closed roads leading to the affected villages and launched a large-scale operation to find him. The newspaper Milliyet reported that a vehicle allegedly taken by the attacker was later found stuck in mud, forcing the suspect to abandon it and flee on foot. Because nothing says "master criminal" like getting your getaway car bogged down in dirt.

The Afyonkarahisar Governorate, in a statement posted to social media, assured the public that "all relevant institutions of our state have been working in coordination since the very first moment and are meticulously carrying out the necessary work" - which is government-speak for "please be reassured by this sentence."

No motive has been confirmed, but the investigation continues, presumably with fewer vehicles stuck in mud.