Dad shoots wife, himself in front of 9-year-old son in library parking lot

An estranged Texas couple is dead in an apparent murder-suicide witnessed by their nine-year-old son.

The Star-Telegram reports that Brian Kesner, 38, called 911 on Sunday morning to say that he had shot his estranged wife outside the Southwest Regional Branch Library in Forth Worth. He then shot himself in the head.

Fort Worth Police Sgt. Joe Loughman told the newspaper that Kesner’s ex-wife Krista R. Copeland, 28, had met Kesner at the library so he could see their nine-year-old son.

She was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital where she later died of a gunshot wound to the head. Kesner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Copeland was the mother of two boys. Her nine-year-old son is believed to have witnessed his mother being shot, and her second son was not present at the scene.

Witnesses told the Star-Telegram that they heard the couple arguing in Copeland’s car, before Kesner allegedly shot her. The boy had reportedly been sitting in his father’s truck but had gotten out of the vehicle just before his father shot his mother.

The boy was not injured.

Kesner reportedly got in his truck after shooting his estranged wife and drove a short distance away before fatally shooting himself in the head.

The newspaper obtained records indicating the couple had married in 2012, but there is no information available about any legal separation.

 

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