Police: Family argument caused mother to shoot, kill daughters

Taylor Sheats, 22, was shot to death by her mother in Katy, Texas on Friday, June 25, 2016. (Source: Facebook) Taylor Sheats, 22, was shot to death by her mother in Katy, Texas on Friday, June 25, 2016. (Source: Facebook) Photo: Facebook Photo: Facebook Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Police: Family argument caused mother to shoot, kill daughters 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

A Fort Bend County woman shot her two adult daughters Friday - killing one of them at the scene - before she was fatally shot by a responding police officer.

On Saturday, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office identified the mother as Christy Sheats, 42, and her daughters as Taylor Sheats, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17.

Later, Fulshear police Facebook page reported one daughter was taken by Lifeflight to the Texas Medical Center and also died. It was unclear Saturday afternoon, which of the victims died at the scene and which was airlifted to the hospital.

The incident happened about 5 p.m. along the 6000 block of Remson Hollow in an unincorporated section near Fulshear.

When officers arrived to investigate a 911 call of "shots fired," they found two women lying on the street in front of a home in a comfortable, middle class subdivision.

A Fulshear police officer shot and killed a third woman at the scene who was holding a pistol. Authorities said it was the mother of the two women on the ground.

One of the daughters of the suspected assailant was taken by LifeFlight to the Texas Medical Center where she was in critical condition, said Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls. The Fulshear Police confirmed that the second daughter later died, according to their Facebook page.

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

"It was a family argument that turned into a shooting," Nehls said. "But we're still trying to put the pieces together."

As crowds of concerned neighbors began approaching, police quickly blocked off the street where the bodies were found.

Austin Enke said he knew the women slightly and had a couple of classes with at least one of them when they attended Seven Lakes High School.

"They were always cheerful and never depressed. You never heard anything bad about them," Enke said.

Nehls said he did not know if the shooting actually happened inside the family's home or on the street where the bodies were found.

Sheriff's records show that deputies had been sent to the family home in the past on more than one occasion. "But as to why we were called here, I don't know," Nehls said.

Nehls added he did know if the mother pointed her weapon at the officer or whether she was still pointing it at her daughters when the officer arrived.

The sheriff said the father was at home when the shooting occurred. He was not injured but was distraught and taken to be checked out at a local hospital.

"He's going through a very difficult time," Nehls said.

Although the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation, other agencies such as the Fulshear police and the Texas Rangers are involved, Nehls said.

A Fort Bend County justice of the peace will likely call for an autopsy. If so, the bodies will be taken to Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences or the Galveston County Medical Examiners Office, Nehls said.