Aug. 29, 2001: The bodies of Tammy Hankins, her son, Kevin Galley, 13, and daughter, Ashley Mason, 11, are discovered by relatives in a Mansfield mobile home. The woman's husband, Terry Lee Hankins, is arrested and charged with capital murder. He later would be convicted and sentenced to death in a trial during which prosecutors also linked him to the deaths of his father and half sister.
Aug. 23, 2001: Jennette Markley, 37, of Garland and her son, Michael Scott Bartlett, 17, are killed by her husband, Jerome Markley, as they return home to retrieve belongings. Mr. Markley also wounds family friend Rod Grosse, who had come along to help. Mr. Markley then kills himself.
Aug. 13, 2001: A 26-year-old Dallas man, Danny Dehoyos, kills his wife, Hortencia Rodriguez, 18, and their daughters, Celeste, 18 months, and Valarie, 7 months, before killing himself.
Source: Dallas Morning News research
Rapid shots
Sgt. Kirkpatrick said the man's brother told police that the family had some domestic problems, but a motive for the shooting was still being investigated Sunday night.
A search of police incident reports from 2000 to Sunday found no reported domestic violence incidents at the home, police said.
Police said neighbors heard two spurts of gunfire and that at least one woman heard screams before officers arrived. The pause in gunfire occurred when the shooter reloaded the handgun, Sgt. Kirkpatrick said.
Shots "were going off so fast it sounded like a string of fireworks," Sgt. Kirkpatrick said, describing a neighbor's report.
He said witnesses saw the suspect run from the home after the gunshots and speed away from the home in the family's silver sport utility vehicle. The car and suspect were discovered at nearby Wynnewood Village shopping center shortly after police arrived at the family home.
Neighbors who live on the quiet street said they never heard disturbances from the home, a one-story, light-blue brick building with a screened-in porch.
"It scares me – they were a peaceful family," said Maria Torres, who lives with her husband and four children down the street. "I don't understand why this would happen."
'Good people'
Neighbors David and Ana Carter said the family didn't appear to have any problems.
"We thought everything was beautiful," Mr. Carter said. "They were nice ordinary children."
Gussie McClendon, who lives across the street, said she watched in horror as the infant was wheeled on a stretcher into an ambulance. She said the family always appeared kind.
CONRAD SCHMIDT / DMN
Police said neighbors heard two spurts of gunfire and that at least one woman heard screams. Witnesses also said they saw the suspect run from the home after gunshots, police said.
"They are wonderful people," said Ms. McClendon, who lives across the street a few houses down the drive. "I thought they were a close family."
Ms. McClendon said one of the young victims was very friendly. "You'd yell across the street, and she'd come over all the time," she said.
"They were good people. Really good people."
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