HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Authorities have released the identities of the six children and two adults found dead in a northwest Harris County home over the weekend. The accused shooter is facing three charges of capital murder.
Harris County Sheriff's Office said it started with a welfare check at a home in the 2100 block of Fallbrook at Veterans Memorial around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. According to deputies, no one answered the door at the home, and they were alerted that a man inside, identified as David Conley, had an outstanding warrant on charges of aggravated assault of a family member.
Deputies surrounded the house, and while they were checking the windows, they saw what appeared to be a dead child on the floor.
Deputies entered the house and said Conley, 49, started shooting. They pulled back and the hostage negotiation team was called in.
After a couple of hours, Conley surrendered.
Once deputies went back into the home, they found the bodies of eight victims throughout three bedrooms. Investigators said they were all shot to death, and most of them were handcuffed.
Prosecutors said Conley shot and killed Jonah, 6; Trinity, 7; Caleb, 9; Dwayne, 10; and Honesty, 11.
The children's father, Dwayne Jackson Sr., 50, and their mother, Valerie Jackson, 40, were also found dead.
Conley is also accused of killing his biological son, Nathaniel Conley, 13.
Homicide investigators said Conley had a prior relationship with Valerie Jackson.
A prosecutor told a judge that Valerie Jackson recently changed the locks on the house, but Conley found his way inside through an unlocked window.
Andrew Silva, 14, said he was close friends with one of the children who was killed. Silva said when he saw deputies arrive at the home, he tried texting his friend but got no response.
"He was like a brother to me, basically. What happened, it hurt me deep inside, like, that's how is that going to happen? He had a dream. He wanted to go to the NFL. Like, come on, how can you do that?" said Silva. "They would never want to be home. He would always play ball with us. I'm asking him, 'Are you OK, are you all right?' And when I used to have money, me and him, we would go to the store and buy chips, and we would share with the little brother, because I care for them. They were close to me, too. "
The children were students at Aldine ISD's Shotwell Middle School, Hill Intermediate School and Sammons Elementary School.
Aldine ISD released a statement Monday that read in part, "The district was notified of the deaths of six of our students over the weekend who were the victims of a horrific crime. Our community mourns their passing and our thoughts and prayers are with their family and loved ones."
The district said counselors will be available to students and staff for the start of the new school year.
Click here if you are interested in donating for the victim's funeral expenses.
Valerie Jackson, 40