Mom fatally shoots 2 daughters before police kill her

HOUSTON — A Texas mother who fatally shot her two daughters was shot and killed by police, authorities say.

According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, one of the woman's daughters was pronounced dead Friday at the scene. The other was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she later died.

The Sheriff’s Office on Saturday identified the mother as Christy Sheats, 42. The daughters were identified as Taylor Sheats, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls says a motive was still under investigation, but it appeared the shooting climaxed a family argument.

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The shooting occurred inside a home near the Houston suburb of Fulshear. A police officer reportedly opened fire on the mother after she stepped outside of the house with a gun. Investigators said they recovered a handgun from the scene.

"I heard fireworks, I thought, but my dad told me there were some people shooting out here earlier," said Austin Enke, a neighbor who said he went to high school with one of the victims.

"It's crazy. The neighborhood has never seen this kind of thing before. It's always quiet. This is surprising," he said.

Detectives said the woman's husband was in the home at the time of the shooting and ran to a neighbor's home for help.

"I think it would be shocking for anyone, anywhere whether you're in Fort Bend or Harris or anywhere in the country," Nehls said.

Contributing: The Associated Press