Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Blood covers the door of the scene of a murder-suicide in Aransas Pass on Wednesday.

SHARE Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Blood covers the door of the scene of a murder-suicide in Aransas Pass on Wednesday. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times A dog looks out from the back of a house where a murder-suicide occurred in Aransas Pass. Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-Times Aransas Pass officials said a murder-suicide that left a man, his wife and stepdaughter dead on Tuesday night shows the need for more awareness and education about domestic violence. Brenda Dolan Related Photos Murder-suicide in Aransas Pass

By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times

ARANSAS PASS — A blood-splattered front door and a basset hound remained at a home where officials said three died in a murder-suicide.

"You always hear about it happening elsewhere. You never expect to see anything happen here," Aransas Pass Mayor Adan Chapa said. "It's one of those things that we take for granted ... that our community is safe. It is always safe."

Aransas Pass police continue to investigate the Tuesday night shooting, which they said was prompted by a domestic dispute between Steven Matthew Dolan and his wife, Brenda Luera Dolan, Assistant Police Chief David Perkins said.

Dolan, 46, shot himself in the head about 10 p.m. Tuesday after shooting his 47-year-old wife and 11-year-old stepdaughter, Madelyn Rychetsky, at their home in the 1700 block of West Highland Avenue . Police responding to a call of shots fired "found a horrific scene," said City Manager Sylvia Carrillo .

Brenda Dolan was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest outside the house, Perkins said. Her daughter had at least two gunshot wounds and died at a hospital.

Dolan was resuscitated by an officer at the home, but died at the hospital. Perkins said Dolan's other stepdaughter and stepson also were in the home at the time of the shooting, and the adult son was found by his mother's side when officers arrived.

"This has rocked our community more than anybody in this room cares to share," Carrillo said. "We are a small community, close-knit and that child was enrolled in our schools and is a member of (Aransas Pass for Youth ). It has hit home."

Police responded to the house twice before on non-domestic dispute calls, Perkins said.

On her Facebook page, Brenda Dolan appeared polished, refined and extremely proud of her children. She posted many selfies with her smiling daughters and doted on their accomplishments, including Madelyn's perfect school attendance record and high grades.

Known by co-workers as Brenda Rychetsky , she worked several years at the Dillard's at La Palmera mall and Estee Lauder, according to Mike Grulke, general manager at Dillard's.

Grulke said she worked at the cosmetics counter as a makeup artist. Before moving to Aransas Pass, she graduated from Carroll High School and was a Del Mar College alumna.

"She was well-liked by customers and associates, and well-respected for the job she did," he said.

Madelyn and her two siblings were active in the Aransas Pass for Youth's yearround program and annual summer camp, said Rosemary Vega, CEO of the Aransas Pass Chamber of Commerce.

Vega said the camp class Madelyn normally attended was somber in her absence Wednesday morning. Though shocked by the events, Vega said living in the "super close-knit community" is a blessing.

"Everybody knows each other. Everybody is hands-on-deck when something like this happens," she said. "The minute we all found out, we're coordinating, working together on how we can try to get through this together."

Steven Dolan was a 19-year veteran of the Corpus Christi Fire Department. Fire Chief Rocha said Dolan volunteered for cleanup efforts at the World Trade Center site after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Deputy Fire Chief Richie Quintero said counseling services are available to firefighters and were often used by World Trade Center first responders.

City and fire department peer and professional counseling programs are available on a voluntary basis to employees. A team of about 10 firefighters are trained to counsel crews who need to debrief after a particularly tough call, Quintero said.

This is the first homicide investigation in Aransas Pass this year, Carrillo said. The last Aransas Pass killing involving domestic partners was the shooting of 16-year-old Jenna Hernandez in 2012. Her on-again, off-again boyfriend Lawrence Mireles was sentenced to 60 years in prison for her death, which was described as a gang-related killing.

Perkins said domestic violence issues affect every community, state and country.

"It's something we need to pay attention to," he said. "As a community, we need to come together and be able to stop, or at least deter, this type of activity. Nobody needs to be treated like that. From what we've seen last night, nobody wants to see (that) and nobody should have to go through that."

The basset hound and another family dog were retrieved from the home by the city Wednesday. According to the city of Aransas Pass Facebook page, the dogs are available for adoption.

Reporter Beatriz Alvarado contributed to this story. Twitter: @Caller_Jules