RICHMOND, TX – A horrific murder-suicide in Richmond, Texas, has claimed the lives of five family members. Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has provided updates on the incident that took place in the 17000 block of Cory Cornel Lane on Saturday, January 13.
Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan stated in an official briefing that upon arrival at the scene, deputies found two children who had hidden during the shooting, and one adult. During the incident, a juvenile and grandmother who were at home at the time had informed the authorities of the shooting.
According to reports, 46-year-old Alrick “Shawn” Alphanso Barrett is believed to have killed his estranged wife, aged 44, 43-year-old brother-in-law, 46-year-old sister-in-law and 8-year-old niece before ultimately taking his life.
Sheriff Fagan outlined the series of events, noting that Barrett had come to the house in order to return a child from a visitation. Upon arrival, the grandmother of the child attempted to take the child inside, at which point Barrett wanted to enter the house too. The grandmother permitted him inside, oblivious of the impending tragedy.
Upon seeing his ex-wife inside the house, Barrett expressed a desire to reconcile with her. The chilling shooting incident allegedly began when she rejected his proposal.
The victims, alongside the suspect, were taken to the Fort Bend County Medical Examiner’s Office for post-mortem examinations. The results of these examinations are still pending as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Fagan voiced his condolences to the affected families and stated his unit’s commitment to assisting victims of domestic violence, saying, “Our community stands united against such acts, and we are committed to providing support and resources to victims during these challenging times.”