First pictures of Texas family gunned down by Aziz Yazdanpanah in Santa suit

GRAPEVINE, Texas - Police released more details Tuesday in the Christmas Day shooting deaths of seven people inside an apartment.

In a moing news conference, Grapevine police say the shooter, who was dressed as Santa Claus, arrived unannounced Christmas moing at the apartment where three of the victims lived. A short while later, three of the other victims arrived as well.

Police said there was a 15 to 20 minute span where all seven victims were together in the home. At some point, someone sent a text saying the shooter, believed to be the hostess' estranged husband, was at the gathering.

The shooter used two different guns, and did not stop to reload, according to crime scene detectives. Both guns were found at the apartment in the 2500 block of Hall-Johnson Road.

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 moing while dressed as Santa

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

 

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 moing

Before the Tarrant County medical examiner formally identified the deceased on Tuesday afteoon, friends and neighbors said the shooter was 56-year-old Aziz Yazdanpanah.

His estranged wife Fatemah, along with the couple's 19-year-old daughter, Nona, and 15-year-old son, Ali, are among the victims.

Fatemah's sister, Zohreh Rahmaty, her husband, Hossein Zarei, and their daughter, Sahra Zarei, were the other three victims.

A memorial service for the family is scheduled for Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Parr Park, 3010 Parr Lane in Grapevine.