Residents of a Texas town have reacted with shock after four people were found dead inside their home by police on Christmas Eve.
“We had our garage open, we [had] people in the yard celebrating, we’re laughing, we’re eating, we’re having a good time, and something like this is happening right down the street,” said neighbor Stephanie Turner, who lives in Terrell, north Texas.
According to the Terrell Police Department, officers responded at 5:29 p.m. on Wednesday to a residence to conduct a welfare check and found four people who were pronounced dead at the scene.
In an update Monday, the deceased were identified as Philip Dale Humphrey, 66, Sherry Lynn Bostick, 62, and a 12-year-old boy, whose identity was kept anonymous on the request of his family. Investigators determined that each person died from a gunshot wound.
The fourth body was identified as Casey Dale Humphrey, 38, who sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The department did not give further information on the relationship between the victims or the circumstances that led to the shootings. The incident remains an active and ongoing investigation.
Turner told NBC DFW that her son and other family members were playing outside their home when police first arrived.
“They weren’t sure what it was, but we just knew that it wasn’t right,” she said, adding that she and others in the neighborhood were in shock at the horrific incident. “This is a really good neighborhood. People love on each other here and all that good stuff,” she said.
Kathern Limmer was preparing food when she looked out her window and also saw “police cars everywhere.” She and her husband found out further details the day after.
“This was the day before Christmas, and their family had Christmas without them,” she said. “How could you go and come outside every day and look at the house and know what happened?” added Johnny Limmer. “Kind of mind-boggling, really…. [I] can’t grasp it.”
Turner said she had been in contact with a family member of the four victims and that they were “trying to find understanding” in the tragedy.
“This is going to separate their family, this is going to tear up their family, you know?” she told NBC. “Because nobody knows why, nobody knows how, or what caused this or what brought this on.
“All they know is they got family members that are gone.”
She added: “Every time they think about celebrating Christmas, or even Christmas Eve… these people are going to go through some trauma.”
Terrell Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 469- 474-2700.
