Five children, three adults found slain in Texas home

Associated Press

HOUSTON

Eight people — including five children and three adults — were found slain inside a Houston-area home and a man with a history of violence who exchanged gunfire with police has been charged with three counts of capital murder, according to Texas authorities and court records.

David Conley, 49, was charged with one count of capital murder in the deaths of multiple people, one count of capital murder without further detail, and a third count of capital murder in the death of a person under six years of age, according to court documents. He was being held Sunday in the Harris County Jail. Bond had not yet been set for him. An attorney is not yet listed for him.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that the eight people were found slain after they checked the home. The suspect was taken into custody after members of the Harris County Sheriff's Office High Risk Operations Unit and Hostage Negotiation Team negotiated his surrender.

Deputies were called to the home about 9 p.m. Saturday to check the house, Harris County Sheriff spokesman Thomas Gilliland told KHOU-TV . Gilliland said deputies later received information indicating that a man inside the home was wanted on a warrant for aggravated assault on a family member.

Gilliland said while waiting for a High Risk Operations Unit to arrive, deputies spotted the body of a juvenile through a window. Four deputies forced their way into the home, prompting the suspect inside to begin shooting. Deputies pulled back and waited for the operations unit to arrive. The man surrendered about an hour later.

The relationship between the suspect and victims wasn't immediately known. No further details were released. Officials say more information will be given at a news conference set for 3 p.m.

Court records show Conley's criminal history dates back to at least 1988, with the most recent incident last month, when was charged with assault of a family member. In court documents, authorities say the suspect had been arrested for allegedly assaulting the woman he was living with at the home where the bodies were found. Documents say he was in a dating relationship with the woman.

Court documents said Conley pushed the woman's head against a refrigerator multiple times after she tried to stop him from disciplining her son with a belt. The case was still pending.