U.S. police identify dead in Texas Christmas shooting

U.S. police Tuesday identified the shooter and victims of a Christmas Day murder-suicide in which seven family members died.

Police said the shooter, 56-year-old Aziz Yazdanpanah, dressed up as Santa Claus and opened fire on the six victims just after they finished opening presents, before turning the gun on himself. 

Yazdanpanah died of a self-inflicted gunshot. The six others killed were Yazdanpanah's estranged wife, two teenage children, his wife's sister, her husband and daughter.

Police responding Sunday morning to a 911 call found the bodies of the seven people inside an apartment in Grapevine, about 25 miles northwest of Dallas, Texas.

It appeared the victims had been opening presents around their Christmas tree just before the shooting. Yazdanpanah became the focus of detectives after his sport utility vehicle was found outside the apartment.

Grapevine police spokesman Robert Eberling said Tuesday that investigators believe Yazdanpanah's marital and financial troubles led to the murder-suicide.

His wife and two children had moved out of the couple's home and into an apartment complex three km away, where the shootings took place, police said.

(VietNamNet/Xinhuanet)

• Vietnamese, Singaporean artists launch project on performance art (02/07)
• Youth and Children's Football Tournament – the Summer Sports Festival 2024 concluded (02/07)
• China, Finland enter finale of Da Nang int’l firework fest (01/07)
• Vietnam ranks first at Southeast Asian rowing championship (01/07)
• Keep the fire of happiness, join hands for the community (01/07)
• Provincial Children's House reports the participation in the 27th "Búp sen hồng" Festival (01/07)
• Binh Dinh Festival to promote sea tuna delicacies (28/06)
• Vietnam becomes attractive destination for international celebrities (26/06)