Christmas eve turns tragic after four found dead in Texas home

Shock spread through a small Texas town on Christmas Eve after officers responding to a welfare check found four people dead inside a home.

According to the Terrell Police Department, officers were called to a residence on Wednesday to carry out a welfare check. Inside, they discovered four people who were pronounced dead at the scene.

In an update issued on Monday, police identified three of the victims as Philip Dale Humphrey, 66, Sherry Lynn Bostick, 62, and a 12-year-old boy. 

The child’s name has not been released at the request of the family. Investigators say all three died from gunshot wounds, reports NBC DFW.

Police later identified the fourth person as Casey Dale Humphrey, 38, who they said died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The news has left the neighbourhood stunned. Stephanie Turner, who lives nearby, said the shootings happened while families on the street were marking Christmas Eve together.

“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,” she told the news outlet.

Turner said her son and other relatives were playing outside when police arrived, underlining how close the tragedy unfolded.

Police have not shared further details about the relationships between the victims or what led up to the shootings.