Daniel Derek Haros, aged 25, was killed on October 23, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas, in what turned out to be a tragic double homicide involving his close friend, Phillip Michael Evans. The two victims were attending a Halloween party in their neighborhood when the situation took a fatal turn. The accused, Cary Joseph Heath, a 35-year-old middle school science teacher, was their neighbor and also attended the party that night.
After the party, Haros and Evans were in the front yard of their home when they were suddenly attacked by Heath. He shot both men and struck them in the head with the butt of his rifle. Heath then fled the scene, later telling his wife that he had just killed two people, and handed over their baby, saying it would be the last time he would see the child.
The incident occurred without any clear provocation or known motive, and the seemingly random and senseless nature of the crime left the community shocked. Friends and family of both victims described them as inseparable and beloved within their community. They had been roommates at Haros' mother’s house and had known each other since childhood. Their friends, gathering in grief after the tragedy, expressed their devastation over the loss, noting that the two men were unarmed and in their pajamas when the attack occurred.
Heath was later arrested in the parking lot of the middle school where he worked. He had taught classes the day following the murders, behaving "completely normal," according to some witnesses. The police, lacking enough probable cause earlier, made the arrest later after gathering more evidence, and Heath was subsequently charged with two counts of capital murder. This tragic and violent event has left many questions unanswered, as Heath showed no apparent remorse, and authorities have yet to determine a clear motive for his actions.
