Father and son found dead in murder-suicide

A Rowlett father murdered his 11-year-old son before taking his own life over the weekend.

Police said 40-year-old Policarpo Gonzalez-Flores shot his son, James Gonzalez, around 11 p.m. Saturday at their home on Mimosa Drive, which is near Hickox and Rowlett roads.

No one else was home at the time but Gonzalez-Flores' wife told police they had recently been talking about getting a divorce.

Police said Gonzalez-Flores was on the phone with his wife and told her he had shot his son and was planning to shoot himself.

The son was a student at Coyle Middle School. There will be counselors available at the campus this week for his friends and teachers.

“Our heartfelt sympathies are with this family and everyone at the campus who knew and loved this young student. He and his family are in our thoughts and prayers as they and our school community mourn this terrible loss,” the Garland Independent School District said in a statement.

Neighbors said they were shocked by what happened.

“I’m sad because the child had a full life ahead of him. I don’t know the reason. No reason ever to get to that extreme,” one neighbor said.

“Don’t believe it. Can’t believe it,” another added.

Family members declined to comment.