Texas Mother Charged in Sons’ Deaths

Police officers secure a residential street with patrol cars and yellow tape — Photo: Steve Sanchez Photos / Shutterstock

Texas deputies charged a Waxahachie mother with capital murder after they say evidence shows she shot and killed both of her sons.

Story Snapshot

Deputies charged Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, with two counts of capital murder after a double shooting in Waxahachie, Texas.
Investigators said scene evidence identified Lemmon as the suspected shooter.
An arrest affidavit reportedly quotes Lemmon saying, “I shot both my kids”.
One son died at the home and the other died later at a hospital, according to reports.

Deputies Report A Double Homicide And A Mother Charged

Ellis County authorities said they found two sons with gunshot wounds at a Waxahachie home on October 1, 2026. The sheriff’s office said they later charged the boys’ mother, Colleen Nichole Lemmon, 42, with two counts of capital murder. Reporters relayed that one victim, reported as 21, died at the scene, and the 15-year-old died later at a hospital. The office said the investigation is active, but the charges reflect what detectives say the evidence shows so far.

Investigators told CBS News Texas that evidence gathered at the scene led them to identify Lemmon as the suspected shooter. FOX 19 reported the sheriff’s office said detectives developed probable cause based on corroborating items they recovered. Those officials also said Lemmon was injured, received medical care, and then was booked into the county jail in Waxahachie after treatment. She is being held at the Wayne McCollum Detention Center, according to those reports.

What The Reported Affidavit Says About The Scene

FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported details from an arrest affidavit tied to the case. The outlet said deputies found Lemmon at the home covered in blood with a gun next to her. The outlet also said the affidavit quotes Lemmon. When asked about the blood, she allegedly replied, “I shot both my kids.” Media outlets have not posted the full affidavit, but they quote those specific details from it in their coverage.

Several outlets named one victim as Christopher Scott Pitre and gave his age as 21. A WFAA transcript used a different spelling and at one point listed 22, which conflicts with other reports. Those inconsistencies appear in media accounts, not in any released court record. Officials have not publicly released a motive. Reporters note the investigation is ongoing, and forensic details like autopsy results were not available in the coverage provided.

How Texas Law Treats Child Victims In Capital Cases

Texas law can raise a murder charge to capital murder based on the victim’s status, such as being a young child. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has explained that the aggravating element is the victim’s age or status, not a special extra intent beyond the killing. As a result, prosecutors often charge child homicide cases at the capital level. Those cases can bring life without parole and, in some situations, the death penalty if statutes allow.

“I shot both my kids.”

Christopher Pitre, 21, and an unidentified 15 yo male juvenile were both shot in the head by their mother, Colleen Nichole Lemmon, at her Waxahachie, TX home on Thursday October 1, 2026.

Ellis County Sheriff Deputies found her hiding next to her home,… pic.twitter.com/Kb2YUpgSjV

— Kiki Danger (@itskikidanger) October 3, 2026

Researchers say familicide, which includes a parent killing children, is rare and most often involves men. A review of cases found these events make up a small share of homicides each year, and they often link to personal stress or mental health history. That pattern makes a mother charged in a double child homicide uncommon but not unheard of. Each case turns on the specific evidence, which in this case will move from police reports into the courts.

Why This Case Resonates Beyond One Crime

People across the political spectrum see a system that often reacts after tragedy, not before. This case shows how fast charges can come when children die, yet it also shows gaps. Reporters quote police summaries while the core documents stay out of public view at first. Many readers worry that powerful systems keep records closed too long. In coming weeks, court filings, autopsy reports, and lab results should provide a clearer public record.