Texas police find 7 dead in Dallas-area apartment
By Associated Press
Dec 25, 2011 4:36 PM CST

Seven people who police believe to be related were found shot to death in a Dallas-area apartment on Christmas Day, and authorities said Sunday they believe the shooter is among the dead.

The four women and three men were all found in an adjoining kitchen and living room area when police entered the apartment shortly after 11:30 a.m., said Grapevine Police Sgt. Robert Eberling. Two handguns were found inside the apartment, he added.

"It appears to be they're all related. It appears all the victims are deceased from gunshot wounds," Eberling said.

The victims haven't been identified yet, Eberling added, but they all are adults.

"We are pretty confident that the shooter is among the deceased victims inside the apartment. We are not actively looking for a shooter that we believe is at large," he added.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving an open-ended 911 call at about 11:30 a.m., Eberling said.

"There was an open line. No one was saying anything," he explained, so police entered the apartment.

It remains unclear whether the victims were celebrating Christmas when the shooting began. Eberling said officers are awaiting a search warrant before conducting a more thorough investigation.