police - gunman in murder-suicide dressed as santa

8/3/2019 Police - Gunman in Murder-suicide Dressed as Santa

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Gunman dressed as Santa

Claus shoots six family

members dead and then kills

himself after opening

Christmas presentsBy Mirror.co.uk 26/12/2011

A man dressed as Santa Claus shot dead six members of hisfamily and then killed himself after they had all opened theirChristmas presents togther.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/


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Police found the bodies of four women and three men - aged 18to 60 - in the kitchen and lounge of a flat in Dallas, Texas. Twohandguns were found near the bodies.

Police sgt Robert Eberling said: "It appears they had justcelebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts." He said thegunman turned up in a Father Christmas outfit.

The victims have not yet been identified, but Sgt Eberling said itappeared they all died of gunshot wounds. He said authoritiesdid not know what sparked the incident.

Lt Todd Dearing of Grapevine police said investigators believed

that all the victims were related, but that some were only visiting.He said police were looking for other relatives to inform.

"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's neverhappened before. Ever," Lt Dearing said.

He said police were performing a "meticulous" search of theapartment and he expected them to be on the scene for manyhours.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving anemergency call at about 11:30 a.m.

Police officers went into the apartment, in a middle-class,suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, not far from the FortWorth neighbourhood of Colleyville.

The apartment is at the back of the complex, overlooking theathletics fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant and police said noneighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmasmorning when many people were not around.


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Police inspect a 4x4 at the murder scene

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic whomoved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said

he always felt safe in the area, but was now afraid to let his 10-year-old son play outside.

"This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said MrFernandez, who was visiting his family for and returned to findseveral police cars parked outside his home.

"This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guesssomething like this can happen anywhere, but seven people

dead. It's just very scary," he added.Sgt Eberling said the area was fairly quiet, and this would be thefirst murder in Grapevine since 2010.


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Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complexabout six months ago, said: "It's all families. That's why I movedhere. No burglaries, no nothing."

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoy

Police: Gunman in murder-suicidedressed as SantaBy DANNY ROBBINS, Associated Press

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) Six members of a Texas familyapparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressedas Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killinghimself, police said Monday.

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shootershowed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was amember of the family. The identity of the shooter and the victims willbe released after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said.

Police went to the apartment midday Sunday after dispatchersreceived a phone call in which no one was on the line. They found fourwomen and three men, aged 18 to 60, dead. A motive for theshootings remains unclear.

Investigators worked overnight, meticulously searching the apartment,along with three vehicles parked outside.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened theirgifts," Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Sunday, adding thatthe apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoyhttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/26/gunman-dressed-as-santa-claus-shoots-six-family-members-dead-and-then-kills-himself-after-opening-christmas-presents-115875-23659598/#ixzz1hf5Uhfoy


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Two handguns were found near the bodies, and it appears all died ofgunshot wounds, he said.

Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the

victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in theapartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform ofthe deaths.

"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happenedbefore. Ever," Dearing said.

Many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said noneighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning

when many people were not around.

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic whomoved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said healways felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his 10-year-old sonplay freely outside.

"This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez,who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several

police cars parked outside his home.

"This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guesssomething like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's

just very scary," he added.

Associated Press writer Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston contributedto this report.

Source: here
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Christmas Massacre: Texas Family,

Relatves Shot After OpeningPresentsBy IBTIMES STAFF REPORT: Subscribe to IBTimes'sRSS feedDecember 26, 2011 8:40 AM EST

They had just finished opening presents on Christmas Day, police said, buta short while later all seven were dead. It appeared they were in the midst

of cleaning up the wrapping paper.

The shooting in Grapevine, Texas, a Dallas suburb, left neighbors in shockand horror as they biggest holiday of the year revealed a gruesome andbloody murder. Investigators said the motive was unclear as to why sevenwere left dead inside the apartment on Christmas Day.

(Photo: Reuters)A police officer makes note of a Toyota 4runner vehicle parked outside an apartment whereseven people were shot and killed on Christmas day in Grapevine, Texas, December 25, 2011.Firefighters eventually forced open the vehicle door, allowing police to closely investigate thevehicle. Police in Texas found the bodies in a middle-class Dallas-area apartment on Sundaysurrounded by opened Christmas presents, all of whom appeared to have been shot to death.They said the victims included four women and three men, and the shooter was among thedead."
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The victims, who were not identified as police worked into early morninghours the day after Christmas to solve the crime, appeared to be all related.They included four women and three men, ages 18 to 50. Grapevine policesaid they think the shooter was one of the dead found at the apartment --apparently a classic murder-suicide.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened theirgifts," said Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling, according to TheAssociated Press.

Eberling said the apartment was decorated for the holidays, including atree.

All of the seven victims appeared to have died from gunshot wounds. Early

in the morning on Dec. 26, police were searching for family of those whodidn't live in the apartment to tell them of the horrible news.

"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before.Ever," said Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing, in an AP interview.

He said police received a 911 call at 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Day.

"There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he said.

Police and firefighters responded to the call from the Lincoln Vineyardsapartment complex, which overlooks athletic fields for Colleyville HeritageHigh School. Inside, they found the Christmas massacre.

Two handguns were found in the apartment, police said. One official calledthe "gruesome crime scene" the worst massacre in Grapevine's history.

"This is obviously a terrible tragedy," Mayor William Tate said in a statementto Reuters. "The fact that it happened on Christmas makes it even moretragic. This appears to be a family situation and anyone who has a family

will be incredibly saddened by what happened."

Source: Here
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272717/20111226/christmas-massacre-texas-family-relatves-shot-opening.htmhttp://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272717/20111226/christmas-massacre-texas-family-relatves-shot-opening.htmhttp://www.ibtimes.com/articles/272717/20111226/christmas-massacre-texas-family-relatves-shot-opening.htm


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December 26, 2011 9:22 AM

Cops: Santa killed Texas family afteropening presents

Grapevine police investigate the scene where they found seven people deadoutside Dallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Four women andthree men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death,and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/MikeFuentes)

(AP) GRAPEVINE, Texas Six members of a Texas familyapparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressedas Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing

himself, police said Monday.



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All of the victims appeared to be related, and Grapevine police saidthey believe the shooter was among the dead. Investigators weremeticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehiclesparked outside, and didn't expect to finish until dawn on Monday.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened theirgifts," said Sgt. Eberling said, adding that the apartment wasdecorated for the holiday, including a tree.

The four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found dead in anadjoining kitchen and living room area when police arrived middaySunday, shortly after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on theother line, Eberling said. Two handguns were found near the bodies,

he said.

None of the victims has been identified, but Eberling said it appearsthey all died of gunshot wounds. He said authorities still don't knowwhat sparked the incident.

Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that thevictims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in theapartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of

the deaths.


Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complexafter receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberlingsaid.

"There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained.

So police went into the apartment, located in the middle-classneighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worthsuburb of Colleyville. The apartment was at the back of the complex,overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.


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But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said noneighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morningwhen many people were not around.


"This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez,who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find severalpolice cars parked outside his home.

"This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guesssomething like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It'sjust very scary," he added.

Eberling agreed the area is fairly quiet, noting this would be the firsthomicide in Grapevine since 2010.

Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complex about sixmonths ago so her son could attend the high school, said she lives a

few buildings away and did not hear any gunshots.

"It's all families. That's why I moved here. No burglaries, no nothing,"Posch said.

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57348407/cops-santa-killed-texas-family-after-opening-presents/

The person police believe shot six family members in a Grapevine

apartment on Christmas before killing himself was dressed as SantaClaus, according to a police spokesman.Grapevine Police Lt. ToddDearing said police are still working out the full timeline of themassacre, the bloodiest incident in Grapevine history. The victimswere found beside open gifts near a Christmas tree at an apartment inthe 2500 block of Hall-Johnson Road, according to police."We don'tknow if he was with them or he came over later," Dearing said,
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referring to the man police believe was the killer.Two handguns werefound at the scene. Police say one of the dead, a middle-aged man, issuspected of being responsible for what is apparently a murder-suicide.Police have said some of the victims were seated on furniture,

and others were slumped on the floor.Two of the women and one manwere 18 to 20, police said. The other women were older, and the othermen were in their 50s. Paramedics who arrived at the scene shortlyafter the police determined that all the victims were dead.All sevendeceased were "related either by blood or marriage," Dearing said.

Three of the victims lived in the apartment, he said.The names of thevictims had not yet been released as of Monday morning."We'rewaiting on the autopsy report and for the medical examiner's office to

contact next of kin and confirm identities," Grapevine police Sgt.Robert Eberling said. "Hopefully by the end of the day or tomorrowmorning, we should know a bit more."Late Sunday, bodies were still asthey had been found in the apartment while investigators searched forclues. Dearing said investigators worked on the scene until about 2a.m. Monday before breaking for the night."The detectives are back inthis morning and looking at a few things," Dearing said.Police receiveda 911 call from the Lincoln Vineyards Apartments late Christmasmorning, but no one spoke on the other end.When a patrolman arrived

at an apartment near neighbor Claire Comparato's to check things out,he saw bodies slumped around the living room. No one answered thedoor. When officers forced their way in, they discovered four womenand three men lying dead around newly opened presents and aChristmas tree. (This report includes material from Star-Telegramarchives.) Aman Batheja, 817-390-7695Twitter: @amanbatheja

Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.html
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.htmlhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.htmlhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.htmlhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.htmlhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.htmlhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspect-in-grapevine-killings.html


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Texas police: Man in Santa suitkilled 6 relatives

By DANNY ROBBINSThe Associated Press

GRAPEVINE, Texas Police in a quiet Fort Worth suburb worked Mondayto piece together a family history after a man dressed in a Santa Claus suitapparently shot six relatives and himself on Christmas.

Police tape stretches through a Grapevine, Texas, apartment complex where policefound seven people dead in an apartment on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 in Grapevine,Texas. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were foundapparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the

dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Grapevine police investigate the scene where they found seven people dead outsideDallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Four women and three men whopolice believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities saidthey believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)
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Police tape hangs in front of an apartment complex where 7 people were found dead,Sunday Dec. 25, 2010, in Grapevine, Texas. Four women and three men who policebelieve to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said theybelieve the shooter is among the dead (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showedup in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and that the familyappeared to have been opening Christmas presents. Police responding toa 911 call found four women and three men dead, along with twohandguns.

"We think he was just inside there celebrating Christmas with the rest ofthem and decided for whatever reason that's how he's going to end things,"Eberling told The Associated Press.

Investigators worked through Sunday night and into Monday morning,meticulously searching the apartment where the bodies were found, alongwith vehicles parked outside. Police said they believe the victims wererelated, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment.
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Eberling said investigators are piecing together a "family history," but hedeclined to get into specifics. Autopsies of the shooter and the victims werebeing done Monday by the Tarrant County medical examiner, but it wouldprobably be Tuesday before their identities were released, he said.

"We're getting a clearer picture, but we're not ready to go on the record withanything until we find out from the medical examiner absolute confirmationof identities and the manner of death," Eberling said.

Roger Metcalf, a spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said thevictims have been tentatively identified, but the office couldn't confirm thenames because the state driver's license fingerprint database wasn'tavailable on the holiday.

"In addition, we need to locate next of kin before information can bereleased, and our investigators are working on that as well," Metcalf wrotein an e-mail to the AP.

Late Sunday evening, police intently searched a sport utility vehicle parkedoutside the apartment. The vehicle is registered to a man who listed hisresidence as a home two miles away in the neighboring suburb ofColleyville.

Thomas Ehrlich, who lives near the home in Colleyville, told the AP he

heard from neighbors that police went to the house Sunday. He said it washis understanding that the man and women who once lived there wereestranged.

Records show the couple had financial problems and that their home, mostrecently valued on the county tax rolls at $336,200, had been sold in 2010at a foreclosure auction.

Police and firefighters rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex about 11:30a.m. Sunday after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other

end of the line. Because no one responded on the phone, police went intothe apartment, located at the back of the complex.

They found the seven, aged 18 to 60, dead.


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Many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighborsreported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many peoplewere not around.

The apparent murder-suicide involved the first homicides in Grapevine inmore than a year and a half.

___

December 26, 2011 04:56 PM EST

Source: http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-man-in-1274499.html

Gunman dressed as Santa kills 6,self in Texas

by CYNTHIA VEGA & DANNY ROBBINSWFAA & The Associated PressPosted on December 26, 2011 at 4:00 PMUpdated today at 4:10 PM

SEE ALL 6 PHOTOS
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.html?gallery=y&c=yhttp://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.html?gallery=y&c=yhttp://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.html?gallery=y&c=yhttp://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-man-in-1274499.htmlhttp://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-man-in-1274499.htmlhttp://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-man-in-1274499.htmlhttp://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-man-in-1274499.htmlhttp://g.ajc.com/r/F6/http://g.ajc.com/r/F6/


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VIDEO - Gunman dressed as Santa kills 6, self in Texas

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - Six members of a Texas family apparently

opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus

showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police saidMonday.

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter was a

member of the family who showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before

gunfire erupted. The identity of the shooter and the victims will be released

after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said.

Police went to the apartment midday Sunday after receiving a 911 call in

which no one was on the other line. They found the bodies of four womenand three men, aged 18 to 60. A motive for the shootings remains unclear.

Police confirm three of the victims included a mother and her teenage son

and daughter, all of whom were living at the apartment where the shootings

happened. Two other victims were from the nearby cities of Irving and

Colleyville.

Investigators worked overnight, meticulously searching the apartment,

along with three vehicles parked outside.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their

gifts," Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Sunday, adding that the

apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree.

Two handguns were found near the bodies, and it appears that all six

victims died of gunshot wounds, Eberling said. While authorities recovered

two handguns from the apartment, they said they believe only one was

used in the shootings.

Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the

victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the

apartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the

deaths.
http://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.htmlhttp://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.html


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"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before.

Ever," Dearing said.

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after

receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberling said.


So police went to the apartment complex in Grapevine, not far from the Fort

Worth suburb of Colleyville.

The Dallas Morning Newsreported the family was having financial troubles

and that the mother moved into the Grapevine apartment after separating

from her husband, who is still living in the family's Colleyville home a short

distance away.

The family's Colleyville home went into foreclosure earlier this year in

conjunction with the father's bankruptcy filing according to court records,

The Dallas Morning Newsreported.

Neighbors said that the father had been living at the house and was seen

just last week cleaning up leaves in the yard. They said the family lived

there for at least 12 years.

Source: http://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6-self-in-Texas-136236033.html
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December 26, 2011 9:22 AM

Cops: Santa killed Texas family

after opening presents

Grapevine police investigate the scenewhere they found seven people dead outside Dallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec.25, 2011. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were foundapparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among thedead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

(AP) GRAPEVINE, Texas Six members of a Texas familyapparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed

as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killinghimself, police said Monday.


All of the victims appeared to be related, and Grapevine police said

they believe the shooter was among the dead. Investigators weremeticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehiclesparked outside, and didn't expect to finish until dawn on Monday.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened theirgifts," said Sgt. Eberling said, adding that the apartment wasdecorated for the holiday, including a tree.


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The four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found dead in anadjoining kitchen and living room area when police arrived middaySunday, shortly after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on theother line, Eberling said. Two handguns were found near the bodies,

he said.

None of the victims has been identified, but Eberling said it appearsthey all died of gunshot wounds. He said authorities still don't knowwhat sparked the incident.

Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that thevictims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in theapartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of

the deaths.


Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complexafter receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberlingsaid.


So police went into the apartment, located in the middle-classneighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worthsuburb of Colleyville. The apartment was at the back of the complex,overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said noneighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning

when many people were not around.



20/43

"This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez,who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find severalpolice cars parked outside his home.

"This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guesssomething like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It'sjust very scary," he added.


Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complex about sixmonths ago so her son could attend the high school, said she lives a

few buildings away and did not hear any gunshots.

"It's all families. That's why I moved here. No burglaries, no nothing,"Posch said.

Source: Cops: Santa killed Texas family after opening presents

Shot dead as they opened

their Christmas presents:First pictures of family ofSEVEN gunned down by

father dressed in SantasuitBy DAILY MAIL REPORTERLast updated at 7:58 AM on 28th December 2011
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57348407/cops-santa-killed-texas-family-after-opening-presents/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57348407/cops-santa-killed-texas-family-after-opening-presents/


21/43

The first pictures emerged today of seven people gunned down as theyopened their presents on Christmas morning by an estranged husband andfather wearing a Santa suit.

Aziz Yazdanpanah, who had separated from his wife in March, is believed

to have opened fire at an apartment in Grapevine, Dallas - just after thefamily opened their gifts - killing seven people including his children andwife before turning the gun on himself.

Just hours before the families were killed, the Yazdanpanah and Zareifamilies had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens offriends and relatives celebrated late into the night, according toWFAA8.com.


22/43

Family: Daughter Nona Yazdanpanah and her cousin Sahra Zarei were both gunned down onChristmas day


23/43

Gunman: Aziz Yazdanpanah murdered his family and himself on Christmas morning whiledressed as Santa

Son: Ali Yazdanpanah, 15, pictured here with his family, was also shot by his dad


24/43

Friends say Aziz Yazdanpanah, 56, likely showed up unexpectedly the nextmorning as he had not been invited to the party as he had separated fromhis wife in March.The victims have been identified as his wife Nasrin Rahmaty, 55, thecouple's two children Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, and her brother, Ali, 15.

Yazdanpanah also killed his sister-in-law's family. Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, andher husband, Hossein Zarei, 59. Their daughter Sahra Zarei, 22, was alsoshot.

Mona Hosseiny, 27, who grew up with the children, told WFAA8: 'Theywere as close as siblings. They basically called each other sister, brother.They were everybody's best friend and everybody loved them so much.'

Wife: Nasrin Rahmaty, centre, was also murdered by her estranged husband on Christmas day


25/43

Gunned down: The Zarei family - Hossein Zarei, Zohreh Rahmaty and Sahra Zarei were alsoshot by Aziz on Christmas morning

After the Yazdanpanahs separated, Ms Rahmaty moved with her childrento the Grapevine apartment. They were having financial troubles andrecently declared bankruptcy.

Despite their problems, family friends say they never expected anything likethis: 'During the years, we sensed things, but not to the point he would takehis own children's lives.'

Two pistols were recovered from the home, said Sergeant Robert Eberlingof the Grapevine police department, who called it a 'gruesome crime scene'and the worst outburst of gun violence in the town's history.


26/43

Crime scene: Police officers stand outside an apartment where seven people were shot andkilled on Christmas day in Grapvine, Texas

Comfort: The close friends and family of the Yazdanpanahs and Zahreihs mourned their passingyesterday as the shock news of their murder reached them


27/43

A community of about 46,000 people some 20 miles northwest ofdowntown Dallas, Grapevine is known for its wine-tasting salons and wasrecently proclaimed by the state Senate as the 'Christmas Capital of Texas'

for its abundance of annual holiday-season events.

'This is obviously a terrible tragedy,' Mayor William Tate said on Sundaynight in a statement given to Reuters. 'The fact that it happened onChristmas makes it even more tragic. This appears to be a family situationand anyone who has a family will be incredibly saddened by thathappened.'

Police dispatched at about 11:30am local time on Sunday, found the bodiesin the first-floor living room of a two-story unit in the Lincoln Vineyards

apartments, police said.

The 911 caller never spoke to police, and officers did not see the telephonewhen they arrived, officials said.

Eberling said he believed police had to kick in the door to enter. Noneighbors reported hearing gunshots, he said.

Family gone: Hossein Zarei and his wife Zohreh Rahmaty were killed along with their onlydaughter Sahra


28/43


29/43

Investigate: Police officers investigate a Toyota 4Runner vehicle parked outside an apartmentwhere seven people were shot and killed


30/43

Inside: A crime scene photographer is silhouetted against blood splattered window blinds in the

apartment

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex afterreceiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30am, Eberling said.

'There was an open line. No one was saying anything,' he explained.So police went into the apartment, located in a middle-class, suburbanneighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worthneighborhood of Colleyville. The apartment is at the back of the complex,overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said noneighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning whenmany people were not around.


31/43

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved tothe complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safein the area, but is now afraid to let his ten-year-old son play freely outside.'This is really outrageous especially on Christmas,' said Mr Fernandez, whowas visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police carsparked outside his home.

Area: The middle-class, suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, Texas is about 20 milesnorthwest of Dallas

'This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess somethinglike this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary,'he added.


Friends mourn the loss of two families in Christmas shootingHours before two whole families were killed, the group had thrown a large ChristmasEve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated into the night. Noone seemed to mind that one family member, Aziz Yazdanpanah, was not there. view


32/43

full articleShot dead as they

opened their Christmaspresents: First pictures offamily of SEVEN gunneddown by father dressed in

Santa suitBy DAILY MAIL REPORTERLast updated at 7:58 AM on 28th December 2011

The first pictures emerged today of seven people gunned down as theyopened their presents on Christmas morning by an estranged husband andfather wearing a Santa suit.

Aziz Yazdanpanah, who had separated from his wife in March, is believed

to have opened fire at an apartment in Grapevine, Dallas - just after thefamily opened their gifts - killing seven people including his children andwife before turning the gun on himself.

Just hours before the families were killed, the Yazdanpanah and Zareifamilies had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens offriends and relatives celebrated late into the night, according toWFAA8.com.

Scroll down for video
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter


33/43


34/43

Family: Daughter Nona Yazdanpanah and her cousin Sahra Zarei were both gunned down onChristmas day


35/43

Gunman: Aziz Yazdanpanah murdered his family and himself on Christmas morning whiledressed as Santa

Son: Ali Yazdanpanah, 15, pictured here with his family, was also shot by his dad


36/43

Friends say Aziz Yazdanpanah, 56, likely showed up unexpectedly the nextmorning as he had not been invited to the party as he had separated fromhis wife in March.The victims have been identified as his wife Nasrin Rahmaty, 55, thecouple's two children Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, and her brother, Ali, 15.

Yazdanpanah also killed his sister-in-law's family. Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, andher husband, Hossein Zarei, 59. Their daughter Sahra Zarei, 22, was alsoshot.

Mona Hosseiny, 27, who grew up with the children, told WFAA8: 'Theywere as close as siblings. They basically called each other sister, brother.They were everybody's best friend and everybody loved them so much.'

Wife: Nasrin Rahmaty, centre, was also murdered by her estranged husband on Christmas day


37/43

Gunned down: The Zarei family - Hossein Zarei, Zohreh Rahmaty and Sahra Zarei were alsoshot by Aziz on Christmas morning

After the Yazdanpanahs separated, Ms Rahmaty moved with her childrento the Grapevine apartment. They were having financial troubles andrecently declared bankruptcy.

Despite their problems, family friends say they never expected anything likethis: 'During the years, we sensed things, but not to the point he would takehis own children's lives.'

Two pistols were recovered from the home, said Sergeant Robert Eberlingof the Grapevine police department, who called it a 'gruesome crime scene'and the worst outburst of gun violence in the town's history.


38/43

Crime scene: Police officers stand outside an apartment where seven people were shot andkilled on Christmas day in Grapvine, Texas

Comfort: The close friends and family of the Yazdanpanahs and Zahreihs mourned their passingyesterday as the shock news of their murder reached them


39/43

A community of about 46,000 people some 20 miles northwest ofdowntown Dallas, Grapevine is known for its wine-tasting salons and wasrecently proclaimed by the state Senate as the 'Christmas Capital of Texas'

for its abundance of annual holiday-season events.

'This is obviously a terrible tragedy,' Mayor William Tate said on Sundaynight in a statement given to Reuters. 'The fact that it happened onChristmas makes it even more tragic. This appears to be a family situationand anyone who has a family will be incredibly saddened by thathappened.'

Police dispatched at about 11:30am local time on Sunday, found the bodiesin the first-floor living room of a two-story unit in the Lincoln Vineyards

apartments, police said.

The 911 caller never spoke to police, and officers did not see the telephonewhen they arrived, officials said.

Eberling said he believed police had to kick in the door to enter. Noneighbors reported hearing gunshots, he said.

Family gone: Hossein Zarei and his wife Zohreh Rahmaty were killed along with their onlydaughter Sahra


40/43

Crime scene: Two handguns were found near the bodies in the apartment that was decoratedfor Christmas with a tree, police said


41/43

Investigate: Police officers investigate a Toyota 4Runner vehicle parked outside an apartmentwhere seven people were shot and killed


42/43

Inside: A crime scene photographer is silhouetted against blood splattered window blinds in the

apartment

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex afterreceiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30am, Eberling said.

'There was an open line. No one was saying anything,' he explained.So police went into the apartment, located in a middle-class, suburbanneighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worthneighborhood of Colleyville. The apartment is at the back of the complex,overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said noneighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning whenmany people were not around.


43/43

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved tothe complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safein the area, but is now afraid to let his ten-year-old son play freely outside.'This is really outrageous especially on Christmas,' said Mr Fernandez, whowas visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police carsparked outside his home.

Area: The middle-class, suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, Texas is about 20 milesnorthwest of Dallas

'This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess somethinglike this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary,'he added.


Friends mourn the loss of two families in Christmas shootingHours before two whole families were killed, the group had thrown a large ChristmasEve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated into the night. Noone seemed to mind that one family member, Aziz Yazdanpanah, was not there. Readmore: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079034/Christmas-Day-shootings-First-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079034/Christmas-Day-shootings-First-pictures-Texas-family-gunned-Aziz-Yazdanpanah-Santa-suit.html#ixzz1hqCOmaY1http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079034/Christmas-Day-shootings-First-pictures-Texas-family-gunned-Aziz-Yazdanpanah-Santa-suit.html#ixzz1hqCOmaY1http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079034/Christmas-Day-shootings-First-pictures-Texas-family-gunned-Aziz-Yazdanpanah-Santa-suit.html#ixzz1hqCOmaY1

police - gunman in murder-suicide dressed as santa

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