Family friend: Texas killer was 'upset'

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- A friend of victims of a Christmas Day shooting near Dallas-Fort Worth said the man who shot them was "upset" but another said she "never saw him angry."

Azizolah Yazdanpanah, of Colleysville, was dressed as Santa Claus when he shot and killed a man, a teenage boy and four women before taking his own life.

Allison Baum, 18, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Yazdanpanah was protective of his family.

"Aziz had weapons for protection and cameras in the house," Baum said. "He knew what bad people could do. He was very upset when the mother moved out."

Baum -- who attended Colleyville Heritage High School with two of the victims, Nona, 19, and Ali Yazdanpanah, 14 -- told the newspaper Nona had told her Azizolah Yazdanpanah, 56, and his estranged wife, Fatemeh Rahmati, 55, had been in an arranged marriage and were not in love.

Colleen Gedrose of Bedford said she and Azizolah Yazdanpanah were part of the same happy hour group and she never heard him bring up family issues.

"He was outgoing, kind and adored his children," said. "I never saw him angry."

The other victims were identified as Rahmati's sister, Zohreh Rahmaty, 58; her husband, Mohamad Hossein Zarei, 59; and their daughter, Sara Zarei, 22, police said. All the victims were shot in the head, while Mohamad Zarei was also shot in the chest and abdomen.

There was no indication of a struggle, investigators said.

Police said the victims were found beside open gifts near a Christmas tree in the apartment.