Gunman dressed as Santa Claus shoots six family members dead and then kills himself after opening

Christmas presents
By Mirror.co.uk 26/12/2011

A man dressed as Santa Claus shot dead six members of his family and then killed himself after they had all opened their Christmas presents togther.

Police found the bodies of four women and three men - aged 18 to 60 - in the kitchen and lounge of a at in Dallas, Texas. Two handguns were found near the bodies. Police sgt Robert Eberling said: "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts." He said the gunman turned up in a Father Christmas outt. The victims have not yet been identied, but Sgt Eberling said it appeared they all died of gunshot wounds. He said authorities did not know what sparked the incident. Lt Todd Dearing of Grapevine police said investigators believed that all the victims were related, but that some were only visiting. He said police were looking for other relatives to inform. "Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Lt Dearing said. He said police were performing a "meticulous" search of the apartment and he expected them to be on the scene for many hours. Police and reghters rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at about 11:30 a.m. Police ofcers went into the apartment, in a middle-class, suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, not far from the Fort Worth neighbourhood of Colleyville. The apartment is at the back of the complex, overlooking the athletics elds of Colleyville Heritage High School. But many of the nearby apartments are vacant and police said no neighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around.

Police inspect a 4x4 at the murder scene Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but was now afraid to let his 10year-old son play outside. "This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Mr Fernandez, who was visiting his family for and returned to nd several police cars parked outside his home. "This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary," he added. Sgt Eberling said the area was fairly quiet, and this would be the rst murder in Grapevine since 2010.

Christy Posch, a ight attendant who moved to the complex about six months ago, said: "It's all families. That's why I moved here. No burglaries, no nothing."
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Police: Gunman in murder-suicide dressed as Santa

By DANNY ROBBINS, Associated Press GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police said Monday. Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was a member of the family. The identity of the shooter and the victims will be released after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said. Police went to the apartment midday Sunday after dispatchers received a phone call in which no one was on the line. They found four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, dead. A motive for the shootings remains unclear. Investigators worked overnight, meticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehicles parked outside. "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Sunday, adding that the apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree.

Two handguns were found near the bodies, and it appears all died of gunshot wounds, he said. Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the deaths. "Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Dearing said. Many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around. Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his 10-year-old son play freely outside. "This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez, who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police cars parked outside his home. "This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary," he added. Associated Press writer Ramit Plushnick-Masti in Houston contributed to this report. Source: here

Christmas Massacre: Texas Family, Relatves Shot After Opening Presents

By IBTIMES STAFF REPORT: Subscribe to IBTimes's RSS feed December 26, 2011 8:40 AM EST

They had just finished opening presents on Christmas Day, police said, but a short while later all seven were dead. It appeared they were in the midst of cleaning up the wrapping paper. The shooting in Grapevine, Texas, a Dallas suburb, left neighbors in shock and horror as they biggest holiday of the year revealed a gruesome and bloody murder. Investigators said the motive was unclear as to why seven were left dead inside the apartment on Christmas Day.

(Photo: Reuters) A police officer makes note of a Toyota 4runner vehicle parked outside an apartment where seven people were shot and killed on Christmas day in Grapevine, Texas, December 25, 2011. Firefighters eventually forced open the vehicle door, allowing police to closely investigate the vehicle. Police in Texas found the bodies in a middle-class Dallas-area apartment on Sunday surrounded by opened Christmas presents, all of whom appeared to have been shot to death. They said the victims included four women and three men, and the shooter was among the dead."

The victims, who were not identified as police worked into early morning hours the day after Christmas to solve the crime, appeared to be all related. They included four women and three men, ages 18 to 50. Grapevine police said they think the shooter was one of the dead found at the apartment -apparently a classic murder-suicide. "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," said Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling, according to The Associated Press. Eberling said the apartment was decorated for the holidays, including a tree. All of the seven victims appeared to have died from gunshot wounds. Early in the morning on Dec. 26, police were searching for family of those who didn't live in the apartment to tell them of the horrible news. "Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," said Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing, in an AP interview. He said police received a 911 call at 11:30 a.m. on Christmas Day. "There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he said. Police and firefighters responded to the call from the Lincoln Vineyards apartment complex, which overlooks athletic fields for Colleyville Heritage High School. Inside, they found the Christmas massacre. Two handguns were found in the apartment, police said. One official called the "gruesome crime scene" the worst massacre in Grapevine's history. "This is obviously a terrible tragedy," Mayor William Tate said in a statement to Reuters. "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." Source: Here

December 26, 2011 9:22 AM

Cops: Santa killed Texas family after opening presents

Grapevine police investigate the scene where they found seven people dead outside Dallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

(AP) GRAPEVINE, Texas Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police said Monday. Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was a member of the family. The identity of the shooter and the victims will be released after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said.

All of the victims appeared to be related, and Grapevine police said they believe the shooter was among the dead. Investigators were meticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehicles parked outside, and didn't expect to finish until dawn on Monday. "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," said Sgt. Eberling said, adding that the apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree. The four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found dead in an adjoining kitchen and living room area when police arrived midday Sunday, shortly after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other line, Eberling said. Two handguns were found near the bodies, he said. None of the victims has been identified, but Eberling said it appears they all died of gunshot wounds. He said authorities still don't know what sparked the incident. Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the deaths. "Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Dearing said. Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberling said. "There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained. So police went into the apartment, located in the middle-class neighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville. The apartment was at the back of the complex, overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School.

But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around. Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his 10-year-old son play freely outside. "This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez, who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police cars parked outside his home. "This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary," he added. Eberling agreed the area is fairly quiet, noting this would be the first homicide in Grapevine since 2010. Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complex about six months ago so her son could attend the high school, said she lives a few buildings away and did not hear any gunshots. "It's all families. That's why I moved here. No burglaries, no nothing," Posch said. Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57348407/copssanta-killed-texas-family-after-opening-presents/ The person police believe shot six family members in a Grapevine apartment on Christmas before killing himself was dressed as Santa Claus, according to a police spokesman.Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said police are still working out the full timeline of the massacre, the bloodiest incident in Grapevine history. The victims were found beside open gifts near a Christmas tree at an apartment in the 2500 block of Hall-Johnson Road, according to police."We don't know if he was with them or he came over later," Dearing said,

referring to the man police believe was the killer.Two handguns were found at the scene. Police say one of the dead, a middle-aged man, is suspected of being responsible for what is apparently a murdersuicide.Police have said some of the victims were seated on furniture, and others were slumped on the floor.Two of the women and one man were 18 to 20, police said. The other women were older, and the other men were in their 50s. Paramedics who arrived at the scene shortly after the police determined that all the victims were dead.All seven deceased were "related either by blood or marriage," Dearing said. Three of the victims lived in the apartment, he said.The names of the victims had not yet been released as of Monday morning."We're waiting on the autopsy report and for the medical examiner's office to contact next of kin and confirm identities," Grapevine police Sgt. Robert Eberling said. "Hopefully by the end of the day or tomorrow morning, we should know a bit more."Late Sunday, bodies were still as they had been found in the apartment while investigators searched for clues. Dearing said investigators worked on the scene until about 2 a.m. Monday before breaking for the night."The detectives are back in this morning and looking at a few things," Dearing said.Police received a 911 call from the Lincoln Vineyards Apartments late Christmas morning, but no one spoke on the other end.When a patrolman arrived at an apartment near neighbor Claire Comparato's to check things out, he saw bodies slumped around the living room. No one answered the door. When officers forced their way in, they discovered four women and three men lying dead around newly opened presents and a Christmas tree. (This report includes material from Star-Telegram archives.) Aman Batheja, 817-390-7695Twitter: @amanbatheja Source: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/26/3618633/suspectin-grapevine-killings.html

Texas police: Man in Santa suit killed 6 relatives

By DANNY ROBBINS The Associated Press

GRAPEVINE, Texas Police in a quiet Fort Worth suburb worked Monday to piece together a family history after a man dressed in a Santa Claus suit apparently shot six relatives and himself on Christmas.

Police tape stretches through a Grapevine, Texas, apartment complex where police found seven people dead in an apartment on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011 in Grapevine, Texas. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Grapevine police investigate the scene where they found seven people dead outside Dallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Police tape hangs in front of an apartment complex where 7 people were found dead, Sunday Dec. 25, 2010, in Grapevine, Texas. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and that the family appeared to have been opening Christmas presents. Police responding to a 911 call found four women and three men dead, along with two handguns. "We think he was just inside there celebrating Christmas with the rest of them and decided for whatever reason that's how he's going to end things," Eberling told The Associated Press. Investigators worked through Sunday night and into Monday morning, meticulously searching the apartment where the bodies were found, along with vehicles parked outside. Police said they believe the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment.

Eberling said investigators are piecing together a "family history," but he declined to get into specifics. Autopsies of the shooter and the victims were being done Monday by the Tarrant County medical examiner, but it would probably be Tuesday before their identities were released, he said. "We're getting a clearer picture, but we're not ready to go on the record with anything until we find out from the medical examiner absolute confirmation of identities and the manner of death," Eberling said. Roger Metcalf, a spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said the victims have been tentatively identified, but the office couldn't confirm the names because the state driver's license fingerprint database wasn't available on the holiday. "In addition, we need to locate next of kin before information can be released, and our investigators are working on that as well," Metcalf wrote in an e-mail to the AP. Late Sunday evening, police intently searched a sport utility vehicle parked outside the apartment. The vehicle is registered to a man who listed his residence as a home two miles away in the neighboring suburb of Colleyville. Thomas Ehrlich, who lives near the home in Colleyville, told the AP he heard from neighbors that police went to the house Sunday. He said it was his understanding that the man and women who once lived there were estranged. Records show the couple had financial problems and that their home, most recently valued on the county tax rolls at $336,200, had been sold in 2010 at a foreclosure auction. Police and firefighters rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex about 11:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other end of the line. Because no one responded on the phone, police went into the apartment, located at the back of the complex. They found the seven, aged 18 to 60, dead.

Many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around. The apparent murder-suicide involved the first homicides in Grapevine in more than a year and a half. ___ December 26, 2011 04:56 PM EST Source: http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-police-manin-1274499.html

Gunman dressed as Santa kills 6, self in Texas

by CYNTHIA VEGA & DANNY ROBBINS

WFAA & The Associated Press Posted on December 26, 2011 at 4:00 PM Updated today at 4:10 PM

SEE ALL 6 PHOTOS

VIDEO - Gunman dressed as Santa kills 6, self in Texas GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened re and killed them before killing himself, police said Monday. Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter was a member of the family who showed up in the Santa outt shortly before gunre erupted. The identity of the shooter and the victims will be released after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said. Police went to the apartment midday Sunday after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other line. They found the bodies of four women and three men, aged 18 to 60. A motive for the shootings remains unclear. Police conrm three of the victims included a mother and her teenage son and daughter, all of whom were living at the apartment where the shootings happened. Two other victims were from the nearby cities of Irving and Colleyville. Investigators worked overnight, meticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehicles parked outside. "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Sunday, adding that the apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree. Two handguns were found near the bodies, and it appears that all six victims died of gunshot wounds, Eberling said. While authorities recovered two handguns from the apartment, they said they believe only one was used in the shootings. Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the deaths.

"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Dearing said. Police and reghters rst rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberling said. "There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained. So police went to the apartment complex in Grapevine, not far from the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville. The Dallas Morning News reported the family was having nancial troubles and that the mother moved into the Grapevine apartment after separating from her husband, who is still living in the family's Colleyville home a short distance away. The family's Colleyville home went into foreclosure earlier this year in conjunction with the father's bankruptcy ling according to court records, The Dallas Morning News reported. Neighbors said that the father had been living at the house and was seen just last week cleaning up leaves in the yard. They said the family lived there for at least 12 years. Source: http://www.azfamily.com/news/Gunman-dressed-as-Santa-kills-6self-in-Texas-136236033.html

December 26, 2011 9:22 AM

Cops: Santa killed Texas family after opening presents

Grapevine police investigate the scene where they found seven people dead outside Dallas in Grapevine, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. Four women and three men who police believe to be related were found apparently shot to death, and authorities said they believe the shooter is among the dead. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

(AP) GRAPEVINE, Texas Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police said Monday. Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was a member of the family. The identity of the shooter and the victims will be released after autopsies are conducted Monday, he said. All of the victims appeared to be related, and Grapevine police said they believe the shooter was among the dead. Investigators were meticulously searching the apartment, along with three vehicles parked outside, and didn't expect to finish until dawn on Monday. "It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," said Sgt. Eberling said, adding that the apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree.

The four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, were found dead in an adjoining kitchen and living room area when police arrived midday Sunday, shortly after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other line, Eberling said. Two handguns were found near the bodies, he said. None of the victims has been identified, but Eberling said it appears they all died of gunshot wounds. He said authorities still don't know what sparked the incident. Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment. He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the deaths. "Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Dearing said. Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving the open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberling said. "There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained. So police went into the apartment, located in the middle-class neighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville. The apartment was at the back of the complex, overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School. But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbors reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around. Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his 10-year-old son play freely outside.

"This is really outrageous especially on Christmas," said Fernandez, who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police cars parked outside his home. "This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary," he added. Eberling agreed the area is fairly quiet, noting this would be the first homicide in Grapevine since 2010. Christy Posch, a flight attendant who moved to the complex about six months ago so her son could attend the high school, said she lives a few buildings away and did not hear any gunshots. "It's all families. That's why I moved here. No burglaries, no nothing," Posch said. Source: Cops: Santa killed Texas family after opening presents

Shot dead as they opened their Christmas presents: First pictures of family of SEVEN gunned down by father dressed in Santa suit
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 7:58 AM on 28th December 2011

The first pictures emerged today of seven people gunned down as they opened their presents on Christmas morning by an estranged husband and father wearing a Santa suit. Aziz Yazdanpanah, who had separated from his wife in March, is believed to have opened fire at an apartment in Grapevine, Dallas - just after the family opened their gifts - killing seven people including his children and wife before turning the gun on himself. Just hours before the families were killed, the Yazdanpanah and Zarei families had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated late into the night, according to WFAA8.com.

Family: Daughter Nona Yazdanpanah and her cousin Sahra Zarei were both gunned down on Christmas day

Gunman: Aziz Yazdanpanah murdered his family and himself on Christmas morning while dressed as Santa

Son: Ali Yazdanpanah, 15, pictured here with his family, was also shot by his dad

Friends say Aziz Yazdanpanah, 56, likely showed up unexpectedly the next morning as he had not been invited to the party as he had separated from his wife in March. The victims have been identified as his wife Nasrin Rahmaty, 55, the couple's two children Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, and her brother, Ali, 15. Yazdanpanah also killed his sister-in-law's family. Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, and her husband, Hossein Zarei, 59. Their daughter Sahra Zarei, 22, was also shot. Mona Hosseiny, 27, who grew up with the children, told WFAA8: 'They were as close as siblings. They basically called each other sister, brother. They were everybody's best friend and everybody loved them so much.'

Wife: Nasrin Rahmaty, centre, was also murdered by her estranged husband on Christmas day

Gunned down: The Zarei family - Hossein Zarei, Zohreh Rahmaty and Sahra Zarei were also shot by Aziz on Christmas morning

After the Yazdanpanahs separated, Ms Rahmaty moved with her children to the Grapevine apartment. They were having financial troubles and recently declared bankruptcy. Despite their problems, family friends say they never expected anything like this: 'During the years, we sensed things, but not to the point he would take his own children's lives.' Two pistols were recovered from the home, said Sergeant Robert Eberling of the Grapevine police department, who called it a 'gruesome crime scene' and the worst outburst of gun violence in the town's history.

Crime scene: Police officers stand outside an apartment where seven people were shot and killed on Christmas day in Grapvine, Texas

Comfort: The close friends and family of the Yazdanpanahs and Zahreihs mourned their passing yesterday as the shock news of their murder reached them

A community of about 46,000 people some 20 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, Grapevine is known for its wine-tasting salons and was recently proclaimed by the state Senate as the 'Christmas Capital of Texas' for its abundance of annual holiday-season events. 'This is obviously a terrible tragedy,' Mayor William Tate said on Sunday night in a statement given to Reuters. '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 that happened.' Police dispatched at about 11:30am local time on Sunday, found the bodies in the first-floor living room of a two-story unit in the Lincoln Vineyards apartments, police said. The 911 caller never spoke to police, and officers did not see the telephone when they arrived, officials said. Eberling said he believed police had to kick in the door to enter. No neighbors reported hearing gunshots, he said.

Family gone: Hossein Zarei and his wife Zohreh Rahmaty were killed along with their only daughter Sahra

Crime scene: Two handguns were found near the bodies in the apartment that was decorated for Christmas with a tree, police said

Investigate: Police officers investigate a Toyota 4Runner vehicle parked outside an apartment where seven people were shot and killed

Inside: A crime scene photographer is silhouetted against blood splattered window blinds in the apartment

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30am, Eberling said. 'There was an open line. No one was saying anything,' he explained. So police went into the apartment, located in a middle-class, suburban neighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worth neighborhood of Colleyville. The apartment is at the back of the complex, overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School. But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around.

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his ten-year-old son play freely outside. 'This is really outrageous especially on Christmas,' said Mr Fernandez, who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police cars parked outside his home.

Area: The middle-class, suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, Texas is about 20 miles northwest of Dallas

'This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary,' he added. Eberling agreed the area is fairly quiet, noting this would be the first homicide in Grapevine since 2010.

Friends mourn the loss of two families in Christmas shooting

Hours before two whole families were killed, the group had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated into the night. No one seemed to mind that one family member, Aziz Yazdanpanah, was not there. view

Shot dead as they opened their Christmas presents: First pictures of family of SEVEN gunned down by father dressed in Santa suit
full article
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Last updated at 7:58 AM on 28th December 2011

The first pictures emerged today of seven people gunned down as they opened their presents on Christmas morning by an estranged husband and father wearing a Santa suit. Aziz Yazdanpanah, who had separated from his wife in March, is believed to have opened fire at an apartment in Grapevine, Dallas - just after the family opened their gifts - killing seven people including his children and wife before turning the gun on himself. Just hours before the families were killed, the Yazdanpanah and Zarei families had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated late into the night, according to WFAA8.com. Scroll down for video

Family: Daughter Nona Yazdanpanah and her cousin Sahra Zarei were both gunned down on Christmas day

Gunman: Aziz Yazdanpanah murdered his family and himself on Christmas morning while dressed as Santa

Son: Ali Yazdanpanah, 15, pictured here with his family, was also shot by his dad

Friends say Aziz Yazdanpanah, 56, likely showed up unexpectedly the next morning as he had not been invited to the party as he had separated from his wife in March. The victims have been identified as his wife Nasrin Rahmaty, 55, the couple's two children Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, and her brother, Ali, 15. Yazdanpanah also killed his sister-in-law's family. Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, and her husband, Hossein Zarei, 59. Their daughter Sahra Zarei, 22, was also shot. Mona Hosseiny, 27, who grew up with the children, told WFAA8: 'They were as close as siblings. They basically called each other sister, brother. They were everybody's best friend and everybody loved them so much.'

Wife: Nasrin Rahmaty, centre, was also murdered by her estranged husband on Christmas day

Gunned down: The Zarei family - Hossein Zarei, Zohreh Rahmaty and Sahra Zarei were also shot by Aziz on Christmas morning

After the Yazdanpanahs separated, Ms Rahmaty moved with her children to the Grapevine apartment. They were having financial troubles and recently declared bankruptcy. Despite their problems, family friends say they never expected anything like this: 'During the years, we sensed things, but not to the point he would take his own children's lives.' Two pistols were recovered from the home, said Sergeant Robert Eberling of the Grapevine police department, who called it a 'gruesome crime scene' and the worst outburst of gun violence in the town's history.

Crime scene: Police officers stand outside an apartment where seven people were shot and killed on Christmas day in Grapvine, Texas

Comfort: The close friends and family of the Yazdanpanahs and Zahreihs mourned their passing yesterday as the shock news of their murder reached them

A community of about 46,000 people some 20 miles northwest of downtown Dallas, Grapevine is known for its wine-tasting salons and was recently proclaimed by the state Senate as the 'Christmas Capital of Texas' for its abundance of annual holiday-season events. 'This is obviously a terrible tragedy,' Mayor William Tate said on Sunday night in a statement given to Reuters. '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 that happened.' Police dispatched at about 11:30am local time on Sunday, found the bodies in the first-floor living room of a two-story unit in the Lincoln Vineyards apartments, police said. The 911 caller never spoke to police, and officers did not see the telephone when they arrived, officials said. Eberling said he believed police had to kick in the door to enter. No neighbors reported hearing gunshots, he said.

Family gone: Hossein Zarei and his wife Zohreh Rahmaty were killed along with their only daughter Sahra

Crime scene: Two handguns were found near the bodies in the apartment that was decorated for Christmas with a tree, police said

Investigate: Police officers investigate a Toyota 4Runner vehicle parked outside an apartment where seven people were shot and killed

Inside: A crime scene photographer is silhouetted against blood splattered window blinds in the apartment

Police and firefighters first rushed to the Lincoln Vineyards complex after receiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30am, Eberling said. 'There was an open line. No one was saying anything,' he explained. So police went into the apartment, located in a middle-class, suburban neighborhood of Grapevine, not far from the upscale Fort Worth neighborhood of Colleyville. The apartment is at the back of the complex, overlooking the athletic fields of Colleyville Heritage High School. But many of the nearby apartments are vacant, and police said no neighbours reported hearing anything on a quiet Christmas morning when many people were not around.

Jose Fernandez, a 35-year-old heavy equipment mechanic who moved to the complex with his family about six months ago, said he always felt safe in the area, but is now afraid to let his ten-year-old son play freely outside. 'This is really outrageous especially on Christmas,' said Mr Fernandez, who was visiting family for the holiday and returned to find several police cars parked outside his home.

Area: The middle-class, suburban neighbourhood of Grapevine, Texas is about 20 miles northwest of Dallas

'This has shocked everybody. It has scared everybody. I guess something like this can happen anywhere, but seven people dead. It's just very scary,' he added. Eberling agreed the area is fairly quiet, noting this would be the first homicide in Grapevine since 2010.

Friends mourn the loss of two families in Christmas shooting

Hours before two whole families were killed, the group had thrown a large Christmas Eve party at their ranch. Dozens of friends and relatives celebrated into the night. No one seemed to mind that one family member, Aziz Yazdanpanah, was not there. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079034/Christmas-Day-shootings-Firstpictures-Texas-family-gunned-Aziz-Yazdanpanah-Santa-suit.html#ixzz1hqCOmaY1