Police in Texas say a husband shot and killed his estranged wife before killing himself at his daughter’s sweet 16 birthday party.
An argument turned the celebration into a tragedy as Kelly Suckla, 43, allegedly killed Kristi Suckla, 44, near the front door of her parents’ home in Grapevine on Saturday night, WFAA reported.
Kristi moved with her daughter and 21-year-old son into her parents’ home about two months ago, the Dallas Morning News reported.
It’s unclear when she and Kelly separated, but the couple appeared to remain friendly, reports said.
“The family members were aware he was going to be there,” Sgt. Robert Eberling of the Grapevine Police Department said on WFAA. “So I think it pretty much took everybody by surprise.”
Relatives were gathered nearby when gunshots upended the party, but no one witnessed the shootings, WFAA said.
Investigators said they don’t know what started the argument, but allege that Kelly used a handgun to shoot Kristi and then himself, KXAS reported.
Police will check in Euless, where the Sucklas used to live together, if there are records of domestic disputes.