Broward police officials are calling the Dania Beach shooting a murder-suicide after a father shot his two children, killing one and seriously injuring another, before turning the gun on himself.
According to CBS Local , just shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, Timothy Hollis, 32, and his 34-year-old girlfriend, Lashonda Bowers, began arguing at their home in central Broward.
The argument continued in the car as they drove to the home of an unknown relative at Royal Palm Apartments in Dania Beach, just outside of Fort Lauderdale.
Upon arrival, Bower reportedly exited the vehicle and went inside to seek help after a physical altercation with her boyfriend. However, not long after, she heard shots being fired.
Neighbors say this is the man who killed his 1 yr old,shot his 7 yr old, & then killed himself in Dania Beach @wsvn pic.twitter.com/MucTeWGzb1
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) July 27, 2016
Bowers and a relative immediately ran outside, where they discovered the bodies of her boyfriend and 12-month-old daughter, Kalila, on the sidewalk, near the intersection of West Dania Beach Boulevard and Southwest Eighth Avenue.
Bowers’ 7-year-old son, Timothy Jr., was found lying in the street. The boy was alive, but he was injured from an apparent gunshot wound.
Emergency services were immediately called to the scene, but paramedics were unable to revive the Dania Beach father and his daughter. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their son was rushed to DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Breaking: Man shoots both his children, killing one, before turning gun on himself overnight in Dania Beach: https://t.co/0zcmRYVwwF
— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) July 27, 2016
It was later uncovered that the Dania Beach shooting was a murder-suicide, according to authorities.
Sources say after an argument and a physical altercation occurred between Hollis and his girlfriend, the father pulled a gun and shot his two children before taking his own life after Bowers had left the vehicle.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the argument or how many times the father shot his children, but Broward police officials are searching for a motive, according to WSVN .
Broward Sheriff’s spokeswoman Gina Carter, said that “this is a horrible, horrible scenario. It’s the most tragic thing that could happen. This family is completely destroyed by this. Even myself, I’m shaken by this.”
Family and friends were stunned after learning Hollis had taken his own life moments after fatally shooting his daughter and seriously injuring his son as he was known as a “loving father.”
James, who is a family friend, said “You know, that’s why when they told me that this morning, that just don’t add up.”
“Because I used to see him almost every day. I played with the baby and everything so that just don’t add up.”
#BREAKING : BSO investigating a shooting here in Dania Beach – 1 child, 1 adult dead; 2nd child hurt. @NBC6 pic.twitter.com/ZjBqT1u08y
— Michael Spears (@MikeSpearsNBC6) July 27, 2016
A woman – who asked to remain anonymous – who knew the family was also shocked to hear of the murder-suicide. She said, “That’s heart-breaking because I see that little baby every day and the family.”
“She was a sweet little baby, just learning how to walk, she was 1-year-old, she always waved hi.”
People who knew the family told police officials that there were “no signs of abuse.” The unnamed woman stated that the “the mama was quiet. She was a good mother, hard working mother. The daddy, I grew up with the daddy.”
“He didn’t seem to be any harm to the kids, but what triggered that, I don’t know.”
A neighbor said, “It’s very sad because kids are innocent. Whatever the parents go through, the kids shouldn’t have to suffer like that.”
#BREAKING : Toddler, father die in Dania Beach murder-suicide. https://t.co/5EXH1wTH7t pic.twitter.com/1oivYfOLul
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) July 27, 2016
The Broward Sheriff’s office is turning their focus on why the couple was fighting and the circumstances that led up to the murder-suicide.
They are also investigating whether or not the parents have a history of child abuse.
If anyone has any information regarding the Dania Beach murder-suicide to contact “Detective James Hayes at 954-321-4231. Anonymous tips can be made to Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.”
An investigation continues into the Dania Beach shooting that left a father and daughter dead, and his 7-year-old son seriously injured.
[Image via iStockPhoto]
