Father ‘shoots dead kids before killing himself’ in Texas

A father has shot dead his two young children before turning the gun on himself, cops in Texas said.

A five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy were found dead alongside their father at a home in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, on Saturday morning. 

The mother of the children, who was unharmed in the tragedy, called 911 after the shooting. 

The mother has been named as Rachel Dawson, while the children were reportedly named Luke and Bree (pictured)

A five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy were found dead alongside a man at a home in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Dallas-Forth Worth, on Saturday morning

A five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy were found dead alongside a man at a home in North Richland Hills, a suburb of Dallas-Forth Worth, on Saturday morning

The family had not lived in the area long but was very normal, according to neighbors. But a previous neighbor, from when the family lived in Phoenix, said there were 'warning signs' and claimed the father was abusive

The family had not lived in the area long but was very normal, according to neighbors. But a previous neighbor, from when the family lived in Phoenix, said there were ‘warning signs’ and claimed the father was abusive

The mother has been named by 12News as Rachel Dawson, while the children were reportedly named Luke and Bree.

The father has been named as Chris.

Neighbors told the Star-Telegram they heard a loud bang at about 6.30am. Cops say they found the bodies just after 7am. 

‘Me and my girlfriend were getting ready to leave for work and we had one of the windows open,’ Tanner Franklin said. 

‘We heard some weird like yelp-type thing. She was like, “Did you hear that?” I thought it was an animal or something.’

Other neighbors said they heard screams early in the morning before seeing the mother leave with police officers. 

The family had not lived in the area long but was reportedly very normal, according to neighbors. 

But a previous neighbor, from when the family lived in Phoenix, said there were ‘warning signs’ and claimed the father was abusive. 

Ariel Borg told 12News: ‘He was very, very controlling of Rachel to the extent that after a certain point he no longer allowed her to be friends with us.’

Borg said the family lived in Arizona up until a few months ago.

She added: ‘We saw warning signs but I don’t think anyone could have guessed that this would’ve happened. It shocked everyone.’ 

Police spokeswoman Carissa Katekaru said there was 'no history here', adding: 'We're still trying to figure out why. I grew up in North Richland Hills and I would call this a pretty quiet neighborhood'

Police spokeswoman Carissa Katekaru said there was ‘no history here’, adding: ‘We’re still trying to figure out why. I grew up in North Richland Hills and I would call this a pretty quiet neighborhood’

Police spokeswoman Carissa Katekaru said there was ‘no history here’, adding: ‘We’re still trying to figure out why. I grew up in North Richland Hills and I would call this a pretty quiet neighborhood.’  

She also said the incident was ‘crushing’.  

Another neighbor, Karen Banner, spoke to NBC5 about the horrific event.

‘Losing two kids right here at Christmas time, that’s tough,’ she said.

She added: ‘They were playing music, and kicking soccer, and their basketball goal.

‘They’re the only ones that had little kids. All the kids around here are grown and gone.’

Neither the victims nor the perpetrator have yet been formally identified by police.     



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