The Granbury police are investigating the death of a family of four, including two children, in what the authorities described as a murder-suicide after finding the bodies on Thursday while doing a welfare check.
A husband, wife, and two children were found shot to death after the police did a welfare check at the home in 300 block of Katy Lane in Granbury, Fox 4 News reported.
The victims were identified as Marcus Buchanan, 36, Rita Buchanan, 34, and their two children aged 13 and three years old.
Police said they found evidence at the scene that led investigators to believe the incident was a murder-suicide.
The community mourns for the loss of the kids
Family, neighbors, and friends are in shock and are making sense of the murder-suicide tragedy as a neighbor said that "there was never any indication that anything was wrong." Neighbors also reported that Marcus and Rita Buchanan often sit on the porch.
Neighbors described the family as "happy" and that the children seemed to enjoy life as they often played in the backyard. The family moved from Las Vegas six months ago, and the couple worked from home.
A neighbor, Madison McVay, told Star-Telegram that seeing the trampoline in their neighbor's yard was "triggering," knowing that the kids would not be able to play on it again.
Neighbor Crystal Blanchard told WFAA that her daughter is a friend of the 13-year-old victim. Her daughter, Maddison Blanchard, said that they were close, and they would ride the bus every morning and take walks together. Maddison described the 13-year-old victim as a good person, and her death shocked her. Crystal described Marcus as the happiest guy as he always talked and hung out with them.
A classmate of the 13-year old, Kayeleagh Goltl, said she remembered seeing the teen at school on Tuesday, but she was absent from class on Wednesday, February 22.
Nobody in the neighborhood heard any gunfire.
Meanwhile, the Granbury ISD confirmed that the two children were students in the district. On Friday, Granbury ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Glenn said that a crisis management team was helping those who were impacted by the tragedy.
The school also said in a statement that the tragic loss of the two students is heartbreaking for students, teachers, staff, and the community. The school district expressed its appreciation to the Granbury Police Department for its investigation efforts, and the school is willing to assist in the investigation if necessary.
Investigation still ongoing
In a report from CBS DFW, police said that there is no evidence that anyone else was involved. Authorities also said that the scene is consistent with a murder-suicide. However, police must conclude the findings as an active investigation is ongoing.
The Child Protective Services did not clarify if there was a history of abuse in the family.
