Seven bodies found in Texas flat

Police in the town of Grapevine said the dead included four women and three men, one of them the apparent gunman in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide.

Two handguns were recovered from the apartment, said Sergeant Robert Eberling of the Grapevine police department, who called it a “gruesome crime scene” and the worst massacre in the town’s history. There are reports the gunman was dressed as Santa Claus.

The middle income Lincoln Vineyards apartment complex is near Colleyville Heritage High School, one of the area’s most highly regarded schools.

This appears to be a family situation and anyone who has a family will be incredibly saddened by what happened. Mayor William Tate

“This is obviously a terrible tragedy,” Mayor William Tate said in a statement.

“The fact that it happened on Christmas makes it even more tragic. This appears to be a family situation and anyone who has a family will be incredibly saddened by what happened.”

Police responding to a 911 emergency call late Sunday morning found the bodies in the first-floor living room of a two-story unit in the Lincoln Vineyards apartments, police said.

Eberling said he believed police had to kick in the door to enter the apartment.

The circumstances of the shooting remained unclear. However, the victims appeared to have been opening Christmas gifts when the shooting occurred, and there was no visible sign of forced entry or a struggle, police said.

‘Gruesome crime scene’

“By all appearances, they’re all part of the same family,” Eberling said.

“It’s a gruesome crime scene to say the least, with that many victims in that area suffering gunshot wounds,” he said.

Two of the dead were believed to be in their 50s or 60s, while the others appeared to be young adults, about 18 to 20, according to police.

Authorities did not immediately identify the victims and did not speculate on a possible motive for the shooting.

Police said there were no survivors at the apartment when they arrived.