San Marcos CA– Texas Mass Murder Suspect, Ronald Lee Haskell, Jr, held in Spring Texas for the shooting deaths of 6 people, four of them children, and the wounding of another was under investigation by the San Diego Sheriff’s, for assault, earlier this month in San Marcos.
On July 2, 2014, at about 11:00 a.m., Ronald Lee Haskell, Jr. and his mother, Karla Haskell, had an argument at the home they shared in the 1100 block of Harwich Drive, San Marcos. During the argument, Karla tried to leave the house and call for help, but Ronald physically restrained her and prevented her from leaving. At about 3:00 p.m., Ronald left the house. Karla tried to call the Sheriff’s Department, but could not find her phone. The Sheriff’s Department was called to the scene at around 8:00 p.m. after Karla’s daughter returned home.
When a deputy arrived at the house, he spoke to the victim and took a crime report based on the victim’s statement. The deputy also provided the victim information on how to obtain a temporary restraining order. Karla did obtain a restraining order against her son.
Deputies conducted a background investigation on the suspect and his vehicle. They checked areas Ronald Haskell, Jr. is known to frequent, looking for any sign of him or his truck. Despite efforts to locate the suspect, he was not found.
Deputies continued to check the area for the suspect over the next few days.The case was assigned to a detective who was conducting the follow-up investigation when it was learned that Ronald Haskell was involved in a police stand-off in Harris County, Texas, on July 9, 2014 which resulted in his arrest. Thursday, Texas prosecutor Tammy Thomas said Haskell tied up the family, placed them face down, and then shot each of them in the head execution style.
Haskell was taken into custody after a standoff with Harris County, Texas, Precinct 4 Constables, that lasted approximately four hours. The suspect was apprehended after leading deputies on a 30-minute chase, following the killings, in what constables believe to be a domestic dispute.
The shooting occurred late Wednesday afternoon in the Enchanted Oaks subdivision in the 700 block of Leaflet, near I-45N and Cypresswood, where four children and two adults were fatally shot, and a 15-year old female is in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. The victims range in age from five to 40 years old. The lone survivor was able to tell emergency responders who did the shooting. The woman was then transported by LifeFlight to an area hospital along with one of the children, who has since died.
The suspect’s car was sandwiched by two SWAT vehicles, and hostage negotiators talked with the suspect for hours, finally convincing the man to give himself up after 10:00 p.m.
The San Marcos case remains under active investigation and no more information will be released.