12-year-old saves baby after mom's boyfriend kills 3 teens in murder-suicide in Galena Park: HCSO

Brooke Taylor Image
Monday, February 20, 2023
3 teens, 1 man found dead in murder-suicide in Galena Park, HCSO says
Deputies say a 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by her mom's boyfriend after his killing spree. She was able to run away with her 1-year-old niece and find a neighbor's help

GALENA PARK, Texas (KTRK) -- Three teenagers and one man were found dead inside a Galena Park-area home in a murder-suicide, according to deputies.

Investigators said a woman's boyfriend killed three teenagers and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old after an argument before turning the gun on himself, police said.

According to the Harris County Sheriff's, deputies responded to the 2000 block of 2nd street and found four people shot to death Saturday night.

The mother was not home then, but her 38-year-old boyfriend of around two years was home with her three daughters and a friend, deputies said.

Investigators said the suspect sexually assaulted his girlfriend's 12-year-old daughter and told her to run away after the incident.

She was able to grab her 1-year-old niece, who was inside the home and run to a nearby house, without any clothes, to seek help, according to HCSO.

A next-door neighbor's Ring camera captured the girl running for her life.

"She had a little baby in her arms running," Polly Brown said. "She was saying, 'Why did he kill my sister' ?"

Neighbors then called Galena Park police.

When officers arrived, they found 13-year-old Melany Torres, a 14-year-old neighbor, and 19-year-old Sayuri Gil, who was pregnant, according to police.

The 19-year-old, the 13-year-old, and the 12-year-old were siblings. The 1-year-old was the child of the 19-year-old, deputies said.

The 38-year-old suspect, who has not been named, was found dead in the master bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, investigators said.

"The tragic situation makes no sense. Our investigators will try to put all the pieces together. Our condolences go out to the victims' families, everybody impacted, and the city itself," Gonzalez said. "We're trying to connect all the pieces to determine the relationships. We're told that other than him having a dating relationship with the female homeowner for the last two-plus years, he wasn't the father of any of the teens killed here today."

Families and loved ones gathered outside on the evening of the shootings and spoke to ABC13.

"Sad, we are in shock," Suzanna Villa Franca, the mother's friend, said.

They said they were thankful for the neighbors who wrapped the girls in towels and blankets while they called 911.

"We are so glad," Villa Franca said. "We are so blessed they are here at this time."

"They were happy girls, always smiling," Villa Franca said.

The family is asking donations be sent to their Bank of America account, which is 488103674117.

For updates on this story, follow Brooke Taylor on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.