GALENA PARK, Texas — Four people were killed last weekend in what appears to be a murder-suicide shooting in Galena Park, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
It happened around 10:30 p.m. at a house on 2nd Street near N. Main St. and Clinton Dr.
The weekend quickly turned from celebration to tragedy for the families involved. They said they were celebrating a birthday on Friday. By Monday, they were planning funerals.
What happened
According to Gonzalez, a 12-year-old girl called the police and said she had just been sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. She said she was able to pick up her 1-year-old niece and escape, but the man shot several other people inside the house before she got out.
When authorities got to the home, they said they found three girls who had been shot to death. According to family members, sisters Sayuri Gill, 19, and Melany Torres, 13, were found dead. They said Gill was six months pregnant and was the mother of the 1-year-old who was rescued by her sister. Family members said Laisha Perez, a 14-year-old family friend, was also killed in the shooting.
"They were happy. They were happy girls. They were always smiling," the girls' mother said through a family friend. "Even if I feel bad, they always had a positive comment."
A 38-year-old man was found dead in the primary bedroom with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
According to Gonzalez, the man was in a relationship with the homeowner, who is the mother of Gill, Torres and the surviving 12-year-old girl. The girls' mother said she was at work at the time of the shootings. Gonzalez said the man was not the father of any of the girls he killed.
Gonzalez said the man started shooting at the girls after an argument although a motive has not been confirmed. He shot Gill before shooting Torres and Perez, officials said. He then assaulted the 12-year-old, and when he was done, told her to run for her life.
"He then proceeded to sexually assault a 12-year-old that was inside the residence," Gonzalez said. "After that, he told her to go ahead and run from the house ... she did so and ran out of the residence without any clothing."
The 12-year-old survivor was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries, the extent of which are unknown.
"It's just a tragic situation. It makes no sense, it's all senseless and it's very tragic," Gonzalez said. "But our investigators will try to put all the pieces together and our condolences go out to the victim's families and everyone impacted by this and the entire city as well."
Helping the families
A GoFundMe account was set up to help with funeral expenses for Perez. Another GoFundMe was created for Gill and Torres.
A benefit fundraiser is being held for Perez on Tuesday at 5401 East Freeway in the parking lot between the Family Dollar and Chevron.
A viewing will be held next Monday and her funeral will be held on the following day.
Neighbors react
Neighbors said they were in disbelief and shock. Some have lost sleep over the incident.
"No, I couldn't ... just thinking about those young girls losing their lives. It’s just unbelievable," one neighbor said.
Maria Del Consuelo Reyes-Hernandez jumped in to help when she saw the 12-year-old and 1-year-old survivors. She said she saw the girl, who wasn't wearing any clothes, carrying the baby. She and another neighbor brought the girls in and gave them some clothes.
Reyes-Hernandez said the girl told her what she had just endured. She said the girl told her that she ran from the house after she was sexually assaulted and told that she would be killed unless she left.
Resources
In Houston, domestic and family violence cases have increased at an alarming rate. Victims often suffer in silence because they feel scared, helpless or ashamed.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, here are some discreet ways to reach out for help.
The Houston Area Women’s Center has a 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic violence at 713-528-2121 or 1-800-256-0551.
The Family Time Crisis Center can also be reached 24 hours a day at 281-446-2615.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 88788.