Accused Spring gunman faced allegations of domestic violence, had run-ins with police

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities say 33-year-old Ronald Lee Haskell, who's accused of killing four children and two adults in Spring, had previous run-ins with Utah police and was accused by his own mother of domestic violence just last week in California.

The Cache County Sheriff's Office said Thursday in a news release that 33-year-old Ronald Lee Haskell was booked in June 2008 on suspicion of simple assault and domestic violence in presence of a child. He allegedly punched his wife and pulled her hair in front of their children.

Utah online court records show Haskell pleaded guilty to assault and not guilty to the domestic violence charge. Both were dismissed the next year.

Haskell has also had encounters with police in Logan, Utah, where he lived. In June 2013, police served Haskell with a protective order requested by his wife. That order was dismissed in October under several conditions, including supervised visits with his children until his therapist could determine he was no longer a threat to them.

Court records show a judge approved a divorce between Haskell and his wife in February.

Records also show that Harskell's wife wasn't the only person accusing him of domestic abuse. In November, Haskell allegedly attacked his mother, Karla Jean Haskell, and threw her to the ground. When his sister intervened, he threw her to the ground too and punched her, leaving a bruise.

And just last week, Karla Jean Haskell again accused her son of domestic violence in San Marcos, California. Court records show that Karla Haskell claims on July 3, her son got angry at her for talking to his ex-wife and duct taped her to a chair, with her arms taped as well. The domestic violence report says Haskell accused her son of choking her until she passed out and that she remained taped to the chair for four hours.

Haskell wasn't arrested in the incident. The San Diego Sheriff's Department tells us despite efforts to locate the suspect, he was not found.

It wasn't the first time

Authorities say Haskell went to the Spring home of ex-wife's sister on Wednesday and shot everyone inside execution style when he couldn't track her down.

"That's part of the reason why he did what he did because Katie and the family wouldn't tell him where she was," neighbor and family friend Robert Beckstrand said.

Six family members, including 4 children, died, and the surviving 15-year-old is still in critical condition.

Haskell is being held without bond at the Harris County Jail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report