A mother and her daughter are dead and a man is in police custody after a suspected double homicide at a Southeast Garland apartment Tuesday morning, police said.
Garland police said officers were called to a domestic dispute at an apartment in the 700 block of Broadway Commons around 8 a.m.
When officers arrived, they found that the door to the apartment had been forced open. They then noticed “two small children” inside the apartment, according to Garland police.
According to police, officers arrived and rescued the little ones.
As they entered, gunfire reportedly erupted from behind a closed door in a back bedroom.
“While (officers) were there, they heard gunshots coming from inside the residence, an unknown location inside the residence,” said Garland police Lt. Pedro Barineau. “After the gunshots stopped, they heard a male voice speaking and that individual was arrested as the shooter.”
Police said officers took cover, issued orders and “acted quickly to ensure the safety of the children.” Police said it didn’t take long before a man, identified as 35-year-old Brodrick Earl Kennedy, left the bedroom and surrendered without further incident.
When police entered the bedroom, they found two adult women who had been shot. One of the women was dead, and the other was taken to the hospital where she later died of her injuries.
Police identified the women as Kennedy’s wife, 38-year-old Donillie Lashay Kennedy, and Donillie Kennedy’s mother, 58-year-old Shirley Jean Phillips.
“I was sleeping and I was very scared, but then I saw from the window how the police went into the apartment,” said Miguel Bautista, a nearby neighbor. “I feel like no one is safe here. This is something totally unexpected. It’s also sad considering that small children probably saw this.”
Garland police confirmed the children were physically unharmed and were the couple’s children. Police said the children have been released into the care of their extended family.
“The Garland Police Department offers its full support to the grieving families during this difficult time,” police said in a statement.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. A motive is not known.
Kennedy is currently being held at the Garland Detention Center and is charged with felony murder. Bail has not yet been set and it is unclear if he has an attorney to speak on his behalf.
A conviction for a capital crime in Texas automatically carries the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
