Texas Man Shot Kids Execution-Style

The details emerging from yesterday's shooting in a Houston suburb are jarring: Prosecutors this morning alleged that Ronald Lee Haskell, 33, shot his seven victims execution-style in the head after tying them up; four children and two adults are dead, with a 15-year-old survivor having sustained a skull fracture. She reportedly played dead until Haskell left the residence, then called police and told them he was bound for her grandparents' home, KHOU reports. The Chronicle notes police arrived at that location just before Haskell did, and used spike strips to disable his car; he surrendered hours later.

Constable Ron Hickman today said that Haskell came to the first home "under the guise of a FedEx driver wearing a FedEx shirt," though it's unclear if Haskell works for FedEx. He "gathered up the children that were here and awaited the arrival of the parents. ... We now learned that Mr. Haskell was married to a relative of the residents of this home." Haskell is estranged from his wife, who does not live in Texas. According to police, he is facing multiple capital murder charges. A neighbor tells the Chronicle that those killed were a "close-knit ... Mormon family," and the paper dug up public records that showed Stephen Stay, believed to be a local real estate broker, and Katie Stay lived in the home. (More Ron Lee Haskell stories.)