Father charged over murders of six children and two adults in Texas

A man has been charged with murder after family of six children and two adults were found handcuffed and shot dead in their Texas home. David Conley, 48, has been charged with capital murder over the deaths in Houston. He was arrested after a shootout with police. The victims have been identified as parents Dewayne Jackson, 50, his wife Valerie Jackson, 40, and children Nathaniel, 13, Dewayne, 10, Honesty, 11, Caleb, 9, Trinity, 7, and Jonah, 6. Sergeant Craig Clopton said most of the victims had been handcuffed and some had been shot multiple times.

We do not - cannot - fully comprehend the motivation of an individual that would take the lives of so many innocent people. Especially the lives of the youngest.

Chief Deputy Tim Cannon of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office

Conley had previously been in a relationship with Mrs Jackson, according to authorities. He had a violent criminal history and had a dispute with her before the killings, police said. He had previously been arrested for allegedly assaulting her. Nathaniel was understood to be Conley’s son from his relationship with Mrs Jackson. Officers had been called to the home on Saturday night for a welfare check. As they waited for a special unit, they spotted the body of a child through a window and forced their way into the home, prompting the suspect to begin shooting.

The killer’s motives appear to be related to a dispute with Valerie, who was a former domestic partner.

Ch Dep Tim Cannon

Americas David Conley