The Taylor Sheats case refers to the June 24, 2016 shooting in Katy, Texas, in which 22-year-old Taylor Ashton Sheats and her 17-year-old sister Madison were shot and killed by their mother, Christy Sheats, during what she had called a family meeting at their home. Taylor was three days away from her wedding. Investigators concluded their mother deliberately spared their father, Jason Sheats, so he would have to watch his daughters die. A Fulshear police officer killed Christy Sheats at the scene when she refused to drop her weapon.16ABC. Neighbors in Shock After Mom Fatally Shot Her 2 Daughters
What Happened at the Family Meeting
On the evening of Friday, June 24, 2016, Christy Sheats, 42, called her husband and their two daughters into the living room of the family’s home on Remson Hollow Lane. Jason Sheats, who turned 45 that day, later told investigators he believed his wife intended to tell the girls about their impending divorce. He had informed her earlier that day that he planned to file, telling her it would be “the last birthday that you are going to ruin.”2People. Christy Sheats: Before Shooting Two Daughters, Husband Said He Wanted a Divorce
Instead of talking about divorce, Christy pulled a .38-caliber, five-shot revolver from between the couch cushions, pointed it at Jason, and said, “You made me do this.”2People. Christy Sheats: Before Shooting Two Daughters, Husband Said He Wanted a Divorce She then opened fire on the girls. Taylor was struck in the head, back, and chest. Madison was shot once in the neck.3ABC7. Husband of Texas Mom Who Killed Daughters Says She Wanted Him to Suffer
Jason and both daughters ran out the front door. Madison collapsed in a cul-de-sac near the house and died at the scene. Taylor made it into the street. A neighbor who called 911 said she watched Christy chase her daughters outside, stand over one of them, and fire. When the revolver was empty, the neighbor said, Christy went back inside to reload before returning to shoot Taylor again.16ABC. Neighbors in Shock After Mom Fatally Shot Her 2 Daughters Taylor was airlifted to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and later died.4CBS News. Disturbing 911 Audio Released After Texas Mom Shoots Daughters
Fulshear Police and Fort Bend County sheriff’s deputies arrived while Christy was still armed in the street near her wounded daughter. When she refused repeated commands to drop the gun, a Fulshear officer fired a single shot and killed her.16ABC. Neighbors in Shock After Mom Fatally Shot Her 2 Daughters Jason Sheats was not physically injured.
What the 911 Calls Captured
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office later released three 911 recordings. Two of them were placed by Taylor and Madison themselves. In the background of one call, Jason can be heard pleading, “Please don’t point that gun at us. Please put down your gun. Please don’t shoot.”5Time. Texas Mom Christy Sheats: Taylor, Madison 911 Calls The daughters can be heard crying and begging, “Don’t do it. Please don’t do it.” Christy is heard shouting, “I told you…” before Jason responds, “I’m sorry. I promise you, whatever you want, I will—” and the call cuts off.6Houston Chronicle. Transcript of the 911 Calls in the Fort Bend Shooting
The third call came from a neighbor who narrated the shooting outside in real time, describing Christy standing over one daughter, re-entering the house to reload, and coming back out to fire again.4CBS News. Disturbing 911 Audio Released After Texas Mom Shoots Daughters
Why She Did It
Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls concluded, based largely on interviews with Jason Sheats, that Christy had deliberately spared her husband so he would live with the memory of his daughters’ deaths. Nehls told reporters that Christy “knew how much he loved Taylor and Madison and how much they loved him” and that she wanted to make him “witness the brutal deaths of his children.”7Houston Chronicle. Fort Bend Sheriff to Release New Details on Sheats Shooting Jason said his wife “had ample time” to shoot him during the encounter but chose not to, because she wanted him to suffer.8CBS News. Texas Woman Shot Daughters to Make Husband Suffer
The killings followed a period of domestic conflict. The marriage had been deteriorating, and the couple had recently argued over Christy’s attempt to ground Taylor and keep her away from her fiancé, Juan Sebastian Lugo. Jason considered the grounding inappropriate for a 22-year-old and disagreed with his wife openly.9KENS 5. Jason Sheats: Christy Wanted Me to Suffer Christy was also described as an outspoken gun-rights supporter who reportedly claimed to own ten firearms.10South China Morning Post. Death in the Suburbs: Police Gun Down Texas Mother Who Shot Daughters
Christy Sheats’s Mental Health History and Prior Police Contacts
Christy Sheats had a documented history of mental illness that intensified after the deaths of her grandfather and mother in 2012. Jason told investigators his wife entered a “downward spiral” after those losses, drank heavily at times, and was taking multiple medications for depression and anxiety.8CBS News. Texas Woman Shot Daughters to Make Husband Suffer She had been admitted to three different private mental health facilities in the four years before the shooting.11People. Christy Sheats: How Beautiful Marriage Turned Fatal
Sheriff Nehls confirmed that deputies had responded to the Sheats home 14 times since January 2012. Three of those calls involved confirmed suicide attempts by Christy, and a fourth was classified as a possible attempt. The rest included a verbal argument, a crisis-intervention response, and several false burglar alarms. Nehls said none of those prior calls had given authorities reason to believe Christy was a danger to anyone other than herself.12AL.com. Texas Mom Who Killed Daughters Had History of Suicide Attempts
The revolver used in the shooting was a .38-caliber handgun that had been given to Christy by her grandfather.13NBC DFW. Texas Woman Shot Daughters to Make Husband Suffer: Sheriff Jason told police that Christy had at some point applied for a Texas license to carry a handgun and had been denied. The Sheriff’s Office said it was investigating the reason for the denial.14CBS News. Cops: Texas Mom Shot Daughters So Husband Would Suffer
Who Taylor Sheats Was
Taylor Ashton Sheats was born on April 19, 1994, in Huntsville, Alabama. She graduated from Seven Lakes High School in Katy in 2012, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, played softball, and took part in Future Health Care Professionals. She went on to graduate cum laude with an associate degree from Lone Star College in Cypress, Texas, in May 2016, earning membership in Phi Theta Kappa and making the Dean’s and President’s Lists.15Schmidt Funeral Home. Taylor Ashton Sheats Obituary
At the time of her death, Taylor was working full-time as a teacher at Kids R Kids, a Katy day care and pre-K school, where she helped teach three- and four-year-olds and decorated the facility with her artwork. She also worked evenings as a nanny.16Time. Texas Mom Christy Sheats: Who Were Taylor and Madison Sheats She had recently enrolled at the University of Houston to pursue a degree in medical diagnostic sonography.15Schmidt Funeral Home. Taylor Ashton Sheats Obituary Friends described her as an accomplished artist who specialized in portraits and cartoons.
Taylor had been dating Juan Sebastian Lugo for four years and was engaged to him. The couple had planned a small ceremony for Monday, June 27, 2016, with a larger wedding to follow after she finished college.17People. Texas 22-Year-Old Fatally Shot by Mother Was Set to Be Married She was killed three days before that ceremony. A member of Lugo’s family publicly described Taylor as “the sweetest, most wholesome and caring” person they had known.18ABC 7 NY. Daughter Killed in Triple Shooting Was to Be Married Today
Madison Sheats and the Funeral
Madison Tyler Sheats was born on October 21, 1998, in Cullman, Alabama. She was 17 and about to enter her senior year at Seven Lakes High School. She belonged to the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society and volunteered with the school’s Spartans Out Serving club.19Schmidt Funeral Home. Madison Tyler Sheats Obituary A close friend described her as someone who “brought nothing but happiness to everyone she ever met” and “wouldn’t have harmed a fly.”16ABC. Neighbors in Shock After Mom Fatally Shot Her 2 Daughters
A celebration of life for both sisters was held on June 30, 2016, at Schmidt Funeral Home in Katy. A second service followed on July 2 in Decatur, Alabama, where the Sheats family had roots, and the sisters were buried at Limestone Memorial Gardens.20Time. Christy Sheats Daughters Funeral Juan Sebastian Lugo attended the service and was seen weeping at Taylor’s grave.21Daily Mail. Fiancé of Texas Schoolgirl Shot Dead by Mother Weeps at Grave At the funeral, a friend reported that Jason told those gathered: “If you have loved ones, tell them you love them every day and give them a hug because you never know it might be your last day.”