Four relatives dead, one more in critical condition after gunfire erupts at 1-year-old’s birthday party: Cops

Authorities in Texas say a shooting at a child’s first birthday party left four people dead and one seriously injured. As of an initial police statement, one suspect was in custody and another was on the run.

According to CNN, the incident occurred Saturday evening at a residence in Taft.

According to Department of Public Safety Sgt. Nathan Brandley, members of two families were feuding at the gathering and the altercation escalated to gunfire.

Details about the nature of the disagreement were not immediately available.

Authorities have identified the four people killed as a man and three of his grandsons: 62-year-old Juan Espinoza Sr., 25-year-old Nicky Sandoval, 22-year-old Jeremy Sandoval, ad 20-year-old Juan Sandoval III.

A fourth victim, 43-year-old Juan Espinoza Jr., was transported via air ambulance to a hospital in Corpus Christi where he was listed in critical condition. The man, identified as the father of the younger three and son of the elder, is expected to survive his injuries.

The daughter of Espinoza Sr. said her family had known the suspects for years. She said the five victims were all good men who were always willing to help.

“He did everything he could for us,” she said of her father. “He was happily married to his first and only love my mother, Eulalia Sandoval.”

She said her brother “would give the shirt off his back” and “opened his home to anyone.”

[Featured image: video screenshot]