Christmas Day killer wore Santa outfit

The suspect in a Christmas Day shooting – in which he and six members of his extended family were killed – was dressed as Santa Claus, Texas police said.

Sgt Robert Eberling, a police spokesman in Grapevine, Texas, said the shooter "showed up shortly before the incident took place" in the Santa outfit and was a member of the same family opening gifts in the apartment.

Sgt Eberling said the identity of the man and the victims would be released after autopsies were conducted. Police went to the apartment on Sunday after dispatchers received a phone call without anybody on the line. Officers found four women and three men, aged 18 to 60, dead.

AP