HAWKINS, Texas -- A Father's Day gathering in a small east Texas town turned into a blood bath Sunday as a son opened fire, killing his mother and sister and critically injuring his father and hurting two young relatives, police said.
Paul Owen Beasly Jr., 27, had gone to his parents home to celebrate Father's Day, but a family argument turned bloody at about 1:30 p.m., police said.
Beasley is being held in the deaths of his mother, Ruth Johnson Beasley, 62, and sister, Linda Beasley Birkindine, 37, who was visiting from Euless, Texas, Wood County Chief Deputy Jim Roberts said.
Paul Owen Beasley Sr., 70, was listed in very critical condition at Tyler Medical Center Hospital with a gunshot wound to his head and a cut neck, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Mathew Birkindine, 2, Linda's son, was in stable condition with a lacerated throat at the Tyler hospital. Chad Beasley, 9, the son of another relative, was treated for a broken leg and released.
'It was somewhat of a blood bath,' Roberts said. 'Two shotguns, a pistol and two knives were retrieved from the scene.
'It appeared to be a family feud,' he said. 'Linda lives in Euless and had come over for Father's Day.
'We're not certain what the argument was about,' he said. 'The man in custody is refusing to talk. The only adult (victim) that is still living cannot talk and is not expected to live.
'We are not certain of the cause of death,' he said. 'There are indications of both gun wounds and knife wounds. We cannot tell which are gun wounds and which are knives.'
The house is about half a mile from the nearest neighbor, Roberts said. The 9-year-old boy apparently escaped from the attack and ran to the neighbor's house, Roberts said.
Police expect to file charges against Paul Owen Beasley Jr. Monday and set bond at that time.