Texas Santa slaying horror
It's emerged six people shot dead at a family Christmas celebration in Texas were gunned down by a relative dressed as Santa who also killed himself.
The victims were found among the unopened presents at an apartment in the Dallas suburb of Grapevine.
Police were alerted on Christmas day by a silent emergency call.
SOUNDBITE: Police Sergeant Robert Eberling saying (English):
"Any time we have a call like that we have to investigate it further. Is there a reason why 911 was called and that's why officers made entry into the apartment and discovered what they did."
In a suburb known as the Christmas capital of Texas for its abundance of festive celebrations, residents are stunned.
SOUNDBITE: Abdul Rahmanshibji, neighbour, saying (English):
"That neighbour is very good, very quiet and never...we never had a problem."
SOUNDBITE: Pam Lyon, neighbour, saying (English):
"It doesn't matter what day of the year it is, never should that sort of thing happen."
The dead, some related by marriage, were aged between 15 and 59.
The motive is still a mystery.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
The victims were found among the unopened presents at an apartment in the Dallas suburb of Grapevine.
Police were alerted on Christmas day by a silent emergency call.
SOUNDBITE: Police Sergeant Robert Eberling saying (English):
"Any time we have a call like that we have to investigate it further. Is there a reason why 911 was called and that's why officers made entry into the apartment and discovered what they did."
In a suburb known as the Christmas capital of Texas for its abundance of festive celebrations, residents are stunned.
SOUNDBITE: Abdul Rahmanshibji, neighbour, saying (English):
"That neighbour is very good, very quiet and never...we never had a problem."
SOUNDBITE: Pam Lyon, neighbour, saying (English):
"It doesn't matter what day of the year it is, never should that sort of thing happen."
The dead, some related by marriage, were aged between 15 and 59.
The motive is still a mystery.
Paul Chapman, Reuters