A 4-year-old Texas boy remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to his head after his stepfather reportedly shot him and fatally shot his mother and grandmother before turning the gun on himself.
KWTX reported that Shelly Splittgerber, 36, was granted a temporary protection order Wednesday against her estranged husband, Matthew Splittgerber, 37, citing stalking and harassment. In her application, Shelly claimed Matthew was sending her menacing texts and said she feared for her son’s safety.
In the days leading up to the fatal shooting, Matthew allegedly sent texts to Shelly and her ex-husband, mentioning that their son was in “immediate danger.” Shelly also claimed her estranged husband had followed her son’s bus on the morning of December 14, according to KXXV.
The order said Matthew was barred from going within 200 yards of his wife, her son, and her parents. However, the Bell County Sheriff’s Department told the news station that Matthew was never served the order.
The Temple Daily Telegram reported Shelly was found shot to death in the front yard of her Temple home Thursday morning, a day after receiving the protective order. Near the slain school teacher was her son, who was reportedly shot in his head and stomach.
At some point, Matthew reportedly barricaded himself inside the home with Shelly’s mother, Sherry Gray, 64, and Matthew. KXXV reported that shots were fired during the hours-long standoff, which concluded when SWAT found Matthew and Gray’s bodies in the home.
A GoFundMe page made for the injured 4-year-old said he’s undergone multiple surgeries and is in critical condition.
[Featured Image: Corden Fidler/GoFundMe]
