Houston: An outspoken gun advocate in Texas shot and killed her two teenage daughters before a responding police officer shot and killed her, authorities said on Sunday.
The 42-year-old mother, identified as Christy Sheats, shot her daughters on Friday in the Westheimer Lakes-North neighborhood near the Houston suburbs of Fulshear and Katy, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office said.
Christy shot and killed her two young daughters, Taylor, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17, on what neighbours said was their father's birthday, according to local reports. A family spat started inside the married couple's Houston-area home and spiraled into gun violence that spilled out onto their street.
"It was a family argument that turned into a shooting,” Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said.
"But we're still trying to put the pieces together," Nehls was quoted as saying by the Houston Chronicle.
The woman's husband Jason Sheats was taken away by paramedics, but was not injured, CNN affiliate KTRK reported.
Jason and Christy recently reunited after separating, a neighbour told the TV station. An eyewitness saw Taylor, Madison and Jason running out of their home.
According to the eyewitness, the young women were already wounded. The neighbour said Taylor collapsed on the street and he saw Christy come outside with a gun and then go back inside to reload. When she emerged again, she shot Madison in the back, according to the eyewitness.
Sheriff Nehls said deputies had gone to the family's home in the past, but he declined to provide additional details.
"It would be too premature to give you a motive as to why something like this took place," Nehls said.
"The best we can do is pray for the father and husband so he can work through this," the Sheriff added.
