Father and Son Found Dead After Houston Apartment Standoff and Fire

A 20-year-old stabbing suspect and his 59-year-old father were found dead after a SWAT standoff and apartment fire at the Garden Oaks Village Apartments in north Houston, according to local reports.

The incident began Friday afternoon at the complex on North Shepherd Drive, where Houston police responded to reports of a stabbing and a barricaded suspect. (ABC13 Houston )

The Brief

Houston police were called to the apartment complex shortly after 4 p.m. following reports that a man had been stabbed during a domestic dispute.

Investigators said the 20-year-old suspect allegedly stabbed his 22-year-old brother before barricading himself inside an apartment. The injured brother escaped and was taken to a hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

The suspect’s father, who was reportedly disabled, remained inside the apartment with him.

What We Know

Police established a perimeter around the residence as officers and negotiators attempted to resolve the standoff. Tactical teams were also deployed to the scene.

During the standoff, officers reportedly heard what sounded like two gunshots from inside the apartment. A fire then broke out inside the unit, which quickly became engulfed in flames.

Officers attempted to enter the apartment but were forced back by intense heat. Firefighters evacuated nearby residents and worked to contain the blaze. The fire also damaged two neighboring apartments.

After the fire was extinguished, authorities found the bodies of the suspect and his father inside the residence.

The 22-year-old brother who escaped the apartment survived the stabbing and was expected to recover. Police have not publicly released the identities of the deceased.

What’s Next

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is expected to determine how the father and suspect died. Authorities are investigating whether their deaths were connected to the reported gunshots, the fire or smoke exposure.

Investigators are also reviewing the events leading up to the stabbing, the standoff and the fire. Additional details may be released as the investigation continues.