A late-night argument inside a Grand Prairie home exploded into gunfire Sunday, leaving a husband and wife dead, their adult son wounded, and a police officer hurt, authorities say. Officers were called to the 1600 block of Avenue B around 10 p.m. after the couple’s son, bleeding and desperate, ran to a neighbor’s house for help, according to police. Investigators say the father opened fire inside the home and later died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police Met With Rifle Fire At The Front Door
Officers were responding to a family-violence 911 call and learned that the son had been shot in the face while trying to break up an argument between his parents, according to a police news release reported by The Dallas Morning News. Believing the woman was still inside and in danger, officers forced open the front door and were immediately met with rifle fire, the release says, which led them to return fire.
SWAT officers later went into the house and found the woman in a bedroom and the man in a bathroom, where he had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the same release. Both were later pronounced dead at the scene.
Victims And Injuries
The suspect was 62 years old, and his adult son had been shot in the face, local coverage reported. The son was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover, as reported by FOX 4. One Grand Prairie officer suffered minor injuries when he was hit by ricochet gunfire and was hospitalized for treatment, FOX 4 added. Authorities have not released the names of the deceased while they work to notify relatives.
Scene And Family Details
SWAT officers found the mother in a bedroom with apparent gunshot wounds and the father in a bathroom with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Dallas Express. The outlet reports the son ran next door for help after he was shot, and the block remained locked down as a crime scene into Monday morning.
Investigations Underway
The Dallas County district attorney’s officer-involved shooting team responded to conduct an independent investigation, and the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards opened a parallel administrative review, according to The Dallas Morning News. Investigators are expected to examine officer tactics, physical evidence from the scene, and whether department policies were followed.
The criminal and administrative reviews can move on different timelines as detectives collect forensic evidence and interview any witnesses who heard or saw pieces of the chaos unfold.
Neighborhood Reaction And Resources
Neighbors described a heavy law-enforcement response and said they heard dozens of shots ring out on what had been a quiet Sunday night. A mobile command unit and crime-scene tape were still up the next morning as investigators worked the case, local outlets reported.
For anyone caught in an abusive situation, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233, or you can text BEGIN to 88788. Crisis support is also available by calling or texting 988, as noted by FOX 4.
