CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: In Texas now, a small town is coming to grips with a terrible crime. Police say a man in the town of Throckmorton, west of Dallas, fatally shot his three children before turning the gun on himself. We have details from Jennifer Bordelon, of CNN affiliate KTXS.</s>JENNIFER BORDELON, KTXS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Family and friends gathered at the home of Beth Smallwood to mourn the loss of her three children. The county sheriff says the 911 call came just after 7:30 Saturday night. Police arrived on the scene to find 10- year-old Cory, 4-year-old Casey and 3-year-old Chase fatally shot inside a car. Their father, James Donald Smallwood Jr. laid dead in the front seat with what appears to be a self-inflicted wound. Those close to the family say the 34-year-old man threatened to hurt the kids in the past.</s>DIANA BALTHROP, FAMILY FRIEND: The real story is in San Angelo, where the court system let down this entire family by allowing visitation with this father, who has threatened his wife and children on several previous occasions.</s>BORDELON: Friends also say the Smallwoods were going through a divorce. Beth Smallwood moved her children back to her hometown of Throckmorton just a couple of months ago. This town, with population of less than 1,000, remains in shock.</s>JENNIFER CASTILLO, THROCKMORTON RESIDENT: A small town like this, and that happens, it just really scares me. I don't even want to go out of my house.</s>BORDELON: Investigators say they are allowing Beth Smallwood some time to grieve before taking her statement. (on camera): The Throckmorton County sheriff's office says that all four bodies have been transported to the Tarrant Country medical examiner's office for an autopsy. They now await the results as the investigation continues. Jennifer Bordelon, KTXS, News 12.
Murder/Suicide Shocks Small Texas Town