Grapevine, Texas police and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner have shed a little more light on what happened during a Christmas Day shooting that left seven people dead including the gunman. Meanwhile, family and friends were trying to cope with the tragedy.
"They're all gone. They're all gone. How could that be?” said Sedi Toumani, who considered herself a close family friend with the victims. "All seven of them were killed. We could not believe how it took place."
Toumani could only cope with tears and sharing with CW 33 News about the type of people the world had lost.
"They are the sweetest people, the most wonderful people. They love everybody here,” said Toumani.
On Christmas Day, police said Aziz Yazdanpanah went into an apartment at the Lincoln Vineyards in Grapevine and shot his estranged wife, Fatemeh Rahmati, 55, and five other relatives with two handguns before he turned the gun on himself.
According to family friends and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, among the dead were his son and daughter, Ali Yazdanpanah, 15, Nona Yazdanpanah, 19, Fatemeh's sister Zohreh Rahmaty, 58, her husband Hossein Zarei, 59, and their daughter Sahra, 22.
Police said a 911 call was made from inside the apartment the morning of the shooting.
"We were able to hear someone say, 'Help,' twice, and it is kind of a, the person sounded like they were out of breath,” said Sgt. Robert Eberling with the Grapevine Police Department.
Police said they heard heavy breathing after the cries for help, and then the call was disconnected. Police have also uncovered a text message sent by one of the victims that said the suspected shooter, Aziz Yazdanpanah, showed up in a Santa suit.
"Indicating that the suspected shooter was already there at about 11:15 that morning. The 911 call was made at 11:34,” said Eberling.
Police said there was no evidence that he forced his way into the apartment.
Just the night before, many of the family’s friends had gathered with the victims for a Christmas Eve celebration.
"They were just running around, giving presents, watching everyone eating their food and nobody goes hungry, and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves,” said Toumani.
But now there would be no more gatherings or celebrations with those lost.
"The fact that they're not going to be there for the rest of our lives and my daughter's life and we're not going to be there for their weddings is unfathomable,” said family friend Maryam Hosseiny.
Christmas would never be the same.
"I don't see us celebrating Christmas anytime soon,” said Hosseiny.
