Capital Murder Shock: Sons Found, Gun Nearby

Yellow police tape marking a restricted area at a fire scene with firefighters in the background — Photo: Dale A Stork / Shutterstock

Texas deputies say a Waxahachie mother confessed after both of her sons were found shot, and she now faces two capital murder charges.

Story Snapshot

Ellis County deputies charged Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, with two counts of capital murder.
Deputies reported finding Lemmon injured, covered in blood, with a gun next to her.
One son died at the home; the younger teen died later at the hospital.
Investigators say scene evidence identified Lemmon as the suspected shooter.

Deputies Detail Charges After Deadly Shooting

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office officials said they arrested and charged Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, with two counts of capital murder after a shooting at a Waxahachie home. Investigators said evidence at the scene led them to identify Lemmon as the suspected shooter. The sheriff’s office said detectives developed probable cause based on corroborating evidence gathered during the investigation. The case centers on the deaths of Lemmon’s two sons. The department reported the investigation is active, and formal court proceedings will follow.

News reports say deputies and medics found one son dead at the scene and rushed the other to a hospital, where he died later. Coverage named the older son as Christopher Pitre and listed the younger as a 15-year-old boy. Some reports show small differences in the spelling of the last name and the older son’s age. Those reports do not change the core account of what deputies say happened at the home.

What Deputies Say They Found At The Scene

A reported arrest affidavit described a stark scene. Deputies found Lemmon injured, covered in blood, and lying near a gun inside the residence, according to media accounts of that document. The same affidavit quote says that when asked about the blood, Lemmon stated, “I shot both my kids”. Deputies arranged medical care for Lemmon, and after treatment, she was booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center, according to reports citing the sheriff’s office.

Officials have not announced a public motive. Reports say investigators continue to examine evidence and witness accounts. No outlets in the current record publish ballistics, autopsy findings, or gunshot residue results. Those typically come later through medical examiner reports or court filings. For now, the charging decision rests on what deputies say they found at the house and what they report Lemmon told them.

How Texas Treats Child Homicide Cases

Texas law treats some homicides as capital murder based on who the victim is, not only on special intent. Courts have held that the victim’s status, such as a very young child, can elevate a murder to capital murder under state law, which is why child-victim cases often move into the most serious category quickly. Prosecutors in Texas can pursue life without parole for capital murder, and in some cases, the death penalty is also possible, depending on statutory factors and charging choices.

While familicide is rare, research shows it does occur, and most offenders are men. A review of cases found that familicides were almost all committed by men, often tied to relationship strain, mental health problems, or money stress. A mother accused of killing children is less common, but it has clear precedent in case records and reporting. That context explains both the public shock and the fast escalation of charges in Texas when a child is killed.

Why Early Records Matter To Public Trust

Local outlets reported this case largely from law enforcement statements and a quoted affidavit. That is standard in the first days after a violent crime. It also means the public picture leans on what deputies say they saw and heard before full records are out. Later releases, like autopsy reports, 911 logs, and body camera video, can confirm timing and sequence and help courts test each claim in detail.

For many readers across the political spectrum, quick charges based on scene accounts cut two ways. People want swift action when children die. They also want the system to prove its case with full evidence, not just early summaries. This case will now move from the sheriff’s report stage to the court stage. That is where hard records and sworn testimony will carry the most weight on what happened and why.