A woman and her young daughter, a kindergarten student, were shot and killed Friday in a Birdville ISD parking lot in what Haltom City police are investigating as a murder-suicide.
The man who opened fire on them then took his own life, authorities said.
The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. near the district’s administrative offices and Birdville Stadium off East Belknap Street. Haltom City police confirmed three people died in the incident. None of the victims has been publicly identified.
Investigators believe the man drove to the area in a U-Haul van and first confronted the woman who was driving a white car on a nearby road. Both vehicles then entered the Birdville ISD parking lot, where the altercation turned deadly, police said.
The two female victims were found inside the car. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other died at the hospital. The man was found dead in the parking lot.
“They definitely know each other, and we believe they have some kind of family relationship,” Haltom City police Sgt. Richard Alexander said at the scene on Friday, WFAA reported.
He declined to elaborate, saying investigators could not confirm the exact nature of the relationship at that stage.
The child was a kindergarten student at Cheney Hills Elementary School, Birdville ISD officials confirmed. The district said crisis counselors will be available on campus on Monday and will remain as long as needed. Saturday school sessions at Cheney Hills scheduled for this week were canceled.
In a letter sent to Cheney Hills families, the district wrote, per WFAA: “We are devastated by the loss of one of our students and heartbroken that this tragedy occurred in our community. The loss of a student is always difficult and filled with a variety of emotions. Our teachers and staff will work with our students and families as we navigate this emotional time together.”
Birdville ISD also said no school activities were scheduled at the stadium or any nearby facility at the time of the shooting.
“We are heartbroken this has occurred in our community, and we are working closely with Haltom City Police as they investigate this incident. The area is secure,” the district said in a statement.
Police described the shooting as an isolated incident unrelated to the school district.
Caleb Badibanga, who said he met the woman through work about three years ago, came to the memorial to pay his respects.
“She’s not just like anybody to us. She means a lot,” he said, per WFAA. “She was very kind. Really caring and loving.”
He described the little girl as beautiful and bright.
“Memories never go away. She still lives in my head — her and her child,” Badibanga said. “I cherish every moment that I had to spend with them.”
He struggled to find words to capture his grief.
“There’s a lot I can say, but I don’t know where to start and where to finish. But they were really important to me, and I’m really broken right now.”
Police said they expect to release additional information on Monday.
