Texas deputies charged a Waxahachie mother with capital murder after finding her two sons shot inside their home, one dead there and the other dying at a hospital.
Story Snapshot
- Deputies arrested Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, on two counts of capital murder after her sons were shot.
- An arrest affidavit reportedly quotes Lemmon saying, “I shot both my kids” at the scene.
- Investigators say scene evidence gave them probable cause to identify her as the shooter.
- Reports list one son, 21, dead at the home and the 15-year-old dying later at a hospital.
What Investigators Say Happened in Waxahachie
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home in Waxahachie and found two males with gunshot wounds, ages 21 and 15, according to local reports. The 21-year-old died at the scene. Medics rushed the 15-year-old to a hospital, where he later died. Deputies identified the boys’ mother, Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, as the suspect. The sheriff’s office said investigators developed probable cause based on evidence recovered at the scene. Lemmon was taken into custody and charged with two counts of capital murder.
Media accounts describe key details from an arrest affidavit. According to those reports, deputies found Lemmon injured and covered in blood, with a gun next to her inside the home. When an officer asked about the blood, the affidavit says Lemmon replied, “I shot both my kids”. Reports say she received medical care and was later booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center in Ellis County. Capital murder charges in Texas can apply when the victims are children.
Charges, Evidence, and What “Capital Murder” Means in Texas
Local outlets report Lemmon faces two counts of capital murder, the most serious homicide charge under Texas law. In Texas, prosecutors can bring capital charges when the victim meets certain factors, including being a child, which elevates the killing to capital status under state law. The sheriff’s office says investigators built probable cause using corroborating evidence from the scene. Reported details from the affidavit, including the quoted statement and the firearm location, are central to the case narrative so far.
These reports come early in the process. The accounts are based on police statements and media descriptions of an arrest affidavit, not on trial records. Outlets say the investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released a motive. Some coverage shows inconsistencies in the spelling of a victim’s last name and the older son’s age, which can occur in fast-moving reporting and may be clarified in court documents.
A Rare, Alarming Category of Crime and Why It Grabs Us
Killings within a family are uncommon, and cases in which a mother is accused are rarer still. Research reviews find that most familicides are committed by men, often amid severe personal stress, relationship conflict, or mental health issues. That rarity helps explain why this story spread fast across local media. People want answers, and early police accounts tend to shape what the public first learns about a tragic event like this.
“I shot both my kids.”
Christopher Pitre, 21, and an unidentified 15 yo male juvenile were both shot in the head by their mother, Colleen Nichole Lemmon, at her Waxahachie, TX home on Thursday October 1, 2026.
Ellis County Sheriff Deputies found her hiding next to her home,… pic.twitter.com/Kb2YUpgSjV
— Kiki Danger (@itskikidanger) October 3, 2026
Families, neighbors, and the wider community now face hard questions without quick answers. Authorities will continue to gather records that can firm up what happened, including official affidavits, autopsy findings, and lab tests. For many readers, this case also touches a deeper worry that systems miss warning signs before violence erupts at home. That concern crosses politics: people on the right and left both want law and order and timely help for families in crisis.
Sources:
redstate.com, cbsnews.com, fox19.com, fox4news.com, dallasnews.com, the-express.com, kwtx.com
