BAY CITY, Texas – Two children died after a man shot his four children and their mother in a Bay City mobile home and then took his own life, police say.
Bay City police said the shooting happened in the 2700 block of 10th Street about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.
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Officials said the man and woman were married, but had separated last week.
A neighbor said three of the children were found injured in the front yard after the gunfire stopped. The three boys and a girl are between the ages of 2 and 6 years old, according to friends.
"A lot of people saw the two bodies on the ground. Both of the little boys -- one of them near his dad and the little girl apparently in the vehicle," said Lisa Perez, a neighbor.
The woman was shot in the leg and abdomen, and was taken to Matagorda Regional Hospital, where she underwent surgery Wednesday night.
The children were taken by a Life Flight helicopter to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. The conditions of the surviving victims were not released.
Two of the boys died.
Police said the shooter died at the scene from a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
"At first he lost his job, she had moved out, and I guess they were having marital problems and she went to the women's crisis we have here. Whatever made her come back home this day, I don't understand," said Perez.
A growing memorial of flowers, balloons and stuffed animals have been left near the shooting scene.
"We figure this is the right thing to do considering circumstances. This shouldn't happen to anybody," said Walter Allen.
"It's unbelievable, man, It's such a small community. Everybody knows each other. It's hard to grasp," said William Reddic. "You know, you see this in big cities, you know."
The Bay City Independent School District posted a statement on its Facebook page about the shooting.
"A terrible domestic family tragedy took place at a private residence near Bay City Junior High and Cherry Elementary today," the statement read. "The intent of this message is to confirm that at no time were any students or campuses in any danger today. None of our students or staff have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family who suffered the tragedy today in Bay City."
Bay City police did not release a possible motive.