PORTLAND, Texas — Portland police confirm a double-homicide suicide took place early Saturday morning.
According to police, around 1:30 a.m., a man called 911 and told officers he was distraught and to go to Escondido St. When police arrived, they found the front door open, and found a family of three, 5-year-old Eli Garza, 36-year-old Jennifer Phillips, and 52-year-old Roel Garza dead in the child's bedroom.
"It's difficult for the citizens of this community, it's difficult on the officers of this department, It's difficult with everybody that was involved at the scene," said Portland PD Cheif Mark Cory.
KRIS 6 News obtained the almost 20 second audio clip of the police call to Portland PD, but some of it was inaudible. When a dispatcher asked 'what's going on there?', Garza replied 'just come now'.
After an investigation, police confirmed that Garza shot his child and wife, and then took his own life shortly after hanging up with Portland PD. The incident was premeditated.
"There were some measures taken by the suspect Mr. Garza earlier in the evening in preparatory of this double homicide," said Cheif Cory.
Police say Garza did not have any prior history of violence. They said incidents like this are rare, with the last being five years ago.
Portland PD says the investigation is ongoing.
