Three die in murder-suicide

On Feb. 28, 2017, around 5:15 p.m. the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 emergency call from Dawn Combs, 38, of Van in reference to a disturbance with a weapon in the 100 Block of Private Road 8504 which is south of Van off of FM 314.

Dawn told dispatch that her father, Terry Combs, 68, of Van had a pistol and was threatening to shoot her mother Brenda, Combs,67, of Van; Dawn advised her daughter Fawn Combs, 20, of Van was also in the house.

Dawn was able to get out of the residence with her juvenile daughter at which point Dawn contacted 911; Dawn stated while she was running away she heard gunshots coming from the house.

Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Deputies along with Van Police Officers arrived on scene and established a perimeter around the house.

Deputies obtained more information from Dawn while on scene then the Van Zandt County SWAT team assisted by Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol made entry into the residence.

Three adults later identified as Brenda, Fawn and Terry were found to be deceased inside the residence from what appeared to be gunshots.

During the investigation it was determined Brenda and Terry were divorced but still lived at the same residence with Dawn, her juvenile daughter, and Fawn.

While on scene Investigators determined Brenda and Fawn were the victims of homicide by Terry and Terry died of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot.

All three were transported to Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler for autopsies.

A search of sheriff office’s records show one previous call in 2010 for an assault and other civil and medical calls to the residence.

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