Family says man accused of dual shooting is related to man who went missing in the Houston Heights

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man accused of shooting his mother multiple times and killing her fiancé in west Houston appeared in probable cause court early Saturday.

The video above is from a previous report.

Stephen Burkes, 27, is charged with murder and aggravated assault of a family member. According to court records, Burkes was denied a personal bond and set a $500,000 bond for each charge, totaling $1 million.

During his court appearance, the hearing officer said Burkes allegedly made a written statement confessing to the shooting.

The deadly shooting happened early Friday at a home in the 2300 block of Binley Drive near Wickersham Lane.

When officers with the Houston Police Department arrived at the scene, they found a 51-year-old man unresponsive in the front yard.

In a statement to ABC13, a family member says they're in shock and confused about what happened.

"He never had a history or had any ill feelings towards women, especially his mother," the family member said. They also added that Stephen "had been exhibiting signs of being bi-polar, but never anything this extreme."

Editor's note: In previous reports, police said the victim was Burkes' mother's boyfriend. During his court hearing, the hearing officer said the victim was Burkes' mother's fiancé.

Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim, Burkes' mother's fiancé, dead at the scene.

Family members told ABC13 there was no altercation or aggression between Stephen and the fiancé, describing the incident as an accident caused by some mental health issue.

Paramedics advised officers that a 46-year-old woman, who police said is Burkes' mother, was on the phone with their dispatch, saying she was inside the home and needed help because she had been shot multiple times.

Burkes' mother was hiding in the living room when police discovered she was shot three times -- in the face, arm, and leg, according to police. Investigators said she was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Court documents read that Burkes was sitting outside in the patio area with the gun next to him and was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators said all three adults lived in the home.

It's unclear exactly what led up to the shooting, but police said at some point, Burkes got ahold of a gun and opened fire.

When police arrived at the home, officers said the woman told them her son had mental health issues throughout his life.

Family members are asking for privacy after being in the spotlight just a few months ago.

Back in November, family members asked for the public's help in locating one of their family members, Delano Burkes, who went missing after a night out in Houston Heights. Delano's body was found in the Port of Houston almost two weeks later.

The mother, Karen Jeffley, spoke to ABC13 back then when she was trying to locate her son.

If you need help getting out of a domestic violence situation, call the Houston Area Women's Center 24/7 hotline at 713-528-2121 or call AVDA at 713-224-9911. You can also click here to chat with an advocate online. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need help, call 713-528-3625.

SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: Son in custody after mother shot, her live-in boyfriend killed in W. Houston, police say