Texas boy escapes as mother kills his sister, herself after fight with husband: 'You know how this ends'
DALLAS, TEXAS: A 12-year-old Texas boy managed to escape a hostage situation before his mother shot his eight-year-old sister and herself in an apparent murder-suicide following an hours-long standoff with the police.
The tense situation developed after police officers responded to a domestic violence call in the 500 Block of Highcrest Drive at around 12:30 am on Monday, May 18, and spoke to a man who had been involved in an argument with his wife, according to Dallas News. The man informed the deputies that he had called 911 after he escaped their home near Camp Wisdom Road and I-35E when his wife began shooting at him. SWAT officers were then called to the scene and arrived at the home at 2 am to negotiate with the woman, who had barricaded herself inside with her 12-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter.
Shortly before 3 am, the boy made it out of the home, with authorities refusing to confirm if he had been released or had managed to escape of his own accord. After several failed attempts to get the woman to surrender, SWAT entered the home at around 6:30 am but were forced to retreat when the woman opened fire on them and managed to graze one of the officers' arms.
A source close to the investigation told WFAA the mother never talked to the SWAT team but told her husband, "You know how this ends." SWAT entered the home again at around 9 am and found both her and her daughter dead from an apparent murder-suicide. "It is with a heavy heart that I briefed the media today about a tragic domestic violence situation involving a child,” Dallas Police Chief Reneé Hall wrote on Twitter. "People are worried about #COVID19, crime and the economy. Just know that help is available and it will get better."
She had echoed the message during her press conference. "We are fighting a pandemic," she said. "We are trying to stay alive, but then we kill each other. It’s absurd. … And I want the community to be more outraged about that."
She said officers were doing their jobs and urged community members to let them know what was happening in their neighborhoods. "We are going to work extremely hard to keep you safe, but you gotta help us," she pleaded. "There is no community policing without the community. We need you."
Police have not released the names of anyone involved in the case and have not revealed any further details about what led to the standoff. Child Protective Services said there had been no history of child abuse allegations involving the two children. Child Protective Investigations is now working with police to review the girl’s death and determine placement for the boy.
Lillian Varela, who has lived nearby the scene of the tragic incident with her husband and teenage daughter for six years, said that their neighborhood didn't see much police activity despite the problems of surrounding areas. "It’s south Oak Cliff," she said. "We’re used to hearing gunshots."
She also revealed she and other neighbors said they’d seen the boy riding his bicycle around the block daily and that he was sweet, always smiling and saying hello when he rode by. "I’m feeling for that little boy," she said.