Texas mother fatally shoots 2 daughters, killed by cop

A US woman fatally shot her two daughters before officers shot and killed her, police said.

The incident happened on Friday in front of a home just outside the Houston, Texas suburb of Fulshear.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office identified the mother as 42-year-old Christy Sheats and her daughters as 22-year-old Taylor Sheats and 17-year-old Madison Sheats.

Sheriff Troy Nehls said the shooting apparently followed a family argument, but the reason for the argument remained unclear.

Nehls said the two younger women had already been shot when a Fulshear police officer arrived in response to a 911 call.

The officer saw the mother with a gun in her hand, apparently preparing to shoot one of her daughters again.

He shot her when she refused to put down her weapon, the sheriff’s office said.

The woman’s husband Jason Sheats was taken away by paramedics, but was not injured, CNN affiliate KTRK reported.

Sheriff Troy Nehls said deputies had gone to the family’s home in the past, but he declined to provide additional details.

“It would be too premature to give you a motive as to why something like this took place,” Nehls said.

“The best we can do is pray for the father and husband so he can work through this,” the Sheriff added.