Cops: Texas shooter wore a Santa suit

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- Six members of a Texas family apparently opened Christmas presents just before a relative dressed as Santa Claus showed up, opened fire and killed them before killing himself, police said yesterday.

Grapevine police spokesman Sgt. Robert Eberling said the shooter showed up in the Santa outfit shortly before gunfire erupted and was a member of the family. The identity of the shooter and the victims were withheld pending autopsies to have been conducted yesterday, he said.

Police went to the apartment midday Sunday after receiving a 911 call in which no one was on the other line. They found four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, dead.

A motive for the shootings remains unclear.

Investigators worked overnight, searching the apartment and three vehicles parked outside.

"It appears they had just celebrated Christmas. They had opened their gifts," Police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Sunday, adding that the apartment was decorated for the holiday, including a tree.

Two handguns were found near the bodies, and it appears all died of gunshot wounds, he said.

Police Lt. Todd Dearing said investigators believe that the victims were related, though some were visiting and didn't live in the apartment.

He said police are looking for other relatives to inform of the deaths.

"Seven people in one setting in Grapevine, that's never happened before. Ever," Dearing said.