Man kills 3 family members he considers intruders (Texas police)

A Texas man claimed self-defense after three people were found dead with gunshot wounds in his apartment, but he is now accused of killing members of his family, according to Houston police.

Officers arrived at the home on Houston’s northwest side at 3:17 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, after the tenant called 911, Deputy Chief Wyatt Martin said during a press briefing. During the call, the tenant said he shot three people who he believed were breaking into his apartment, according to Martin.

When police arrived, they found two women and a man dead at the scene, officials said, adding that all three had apparently been shot with a handgun.

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The man, later identified as Bryan J. Fernandez Hernandez, 27, surrendered to police at the scene and was taken into custody, Martin said.

Martin told reporters there was no evidence of forced entry, but that did not necessarily indicate a home invasion did not occur. Police had been to the apartment twice in the past for mental health-related calls, according to Martin.

It was initially unclear what relationship, if any, existed between the alleged intruders and the man — but investigators learned that all three were members of his family, according to a June 23 press release.

He is now accused of murdering two women, aged 65 and 43, and a 38-year-old man, police said.

“It was learned that the eldest woman in the family was living in the apartment and the other two family members had been staying there and visiting her for several days,” police said.

Authorities have not publicly identified the victims and it is unclear what may have motivated the killings.