Four dead after two murder-suicides in the Houston area in the last 48 hours

HOUSTON – Four people are dead after two suspects murdered them and then turned the gun on themselves and took their own lives.

In addition, two other children were injured in each of the two incidents.

On Thursday, a mother was shot dead by a man she dated in the spring, according to investigators.

The man then shot himself.

According to police, a young girl was also injured in the incident and flown to hospital.

And on Friday, another man shot and killed a woman in Independence Heights. Investigators there say the man then tried to flee with their two-year-old child.

When the police caught the man with the child on a bicycle, he pulled out a gun and took his own life.

These are extreme examples of domestic violence.

However, many cases remain in the shadows of everyday life throughout Houston.

That’s why KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding has a candid conversation with Sylvia Phillips, an attorney at Fresh Spirit Wellness.

Gage Goulding: “Two murder-suicides in the last 48 hours, right here in our city. What does that tell you about what’s going on in our community?”

Sylvia Phillips: “That tells me that’s not true. The information isn’t getting out.”

Gage Goulding: “Domestic violence does not discriminate. It can affect anyone from any walk of life.”

Sylvia Phillips: “Absolutely. It can affect doctors, lawyers, teachers and teenagers.”

Gage Goulding: “Who can you call? What can you do? I know you may feel alone, but what can you do? You are not alone.”

Sylvia Phillips: “They are not alone. There are several organizations they can call, most notably Fresh Spirit. They can call us anytime and we will help them develop a safety plan for getting out. They can even text the domestic violence hotline, which is 88788. 911 operators are trained to take calls from people experiencing domestic violence. All they have to do is dial 911 and tell the operator they want to order a pizza. The operator will immediately start asking questions such as, ‘How many pizzas do you want?’ One or two so they know how many people are in the house. The abuser will usually stop and allow you to order food.”

Gage Goulding: “What can you look for? Are there any telltale signs that there might be a problem here?”

Sylvia Phillips: “Yes, sometimes it’s very subtle. It controls what you wear, who you talk to, what you eat.”

Gage Goulding: “But domestic violence isn’t always about a relationship, is it?”

Sylvia Phillips: “Correct. It is domestic violence. Does anyone live in the same house? It can be domestic violence against a partner. It can be domestic violence against a mother, against a child, an adult child.

Gage Goulding: “What would you say to someone who is looking for help, who needs that help?”

Sylvia Phillips: “Call. Call. Call Fresh Spirit. We will help you get out. The first step is hard.”

If you are in immediate danger, be sure to call 911.

For more information, resources, and local reports on domestic violence in Houston, visit our Breaking out Website.

If you need immediate help, you can also call the following numbers:

• If you are in immediate danger, call 911.