Family says medical, financial issues may have played role in Flower Mound double homicide and suicide
FLOWER MOUND, Texas - The family of three people killed in a double homicide and suicide in Flower Mound says financial difficulties stemming from medical bills may have played a role in the shooting.
Flower Mound double homicide & suicide
What we know:
On Wednesday, September 23, at around 10:45 a.m., Flower Mound Police responded to a home in the 10700 block of Sunrise Circle to conduct a welfare check.
Police conducted the check after two of the home's residents failed to report to work, and family members were unable to reach them.
Officers entered the home based on circumstances at the scene, and discovered three deceased individuals inside with apparent gunshot wounds.
Flower Mound police identified the victims as 65-year-old Carlos Shelton, 63-yearold Elida Shelton and 27-year-old Brian Shelton. They believe Carlos Shelton shot and killed Elida and Brian before killing himself.
The case is being investigated as a double murder-suicide, police said. Police have not determined an exact motive.
What they're saying:
Jose Zamarippa, who is married to Carlos and Elida's daughter, says Carlos Shelton had recently dealt with medical issues that resulted in expensive bills.
"I know he had a lot of medical bills and half of the stuff he paid was going to that," Zamarippa said. "With all the things going on, high prices, I guess he got really overwhelmed and decided to do that."
Shelton family
Zamarippa says Carlos had become withdrawn and was not acting like his normal self before the incident. He says Brian Shelton had just completed training to become a ministry leader at his church.
He's sharing their story in hopes of preventing similar situations from happening.
"It’s always good to seek out professional help. If there’s something wrong, always go out to someone, let them know what’s happening. It always good to speak out because what happened here shouldn’t have happened."
What's next:
Flower Mound Police say their investigation remains ongoing.
The Source: Information in this story comes from an interview with Jose Zamarippa and previous FOX 4 reporting.