In the quiet neighborhood of Northwest 5th Terrace in Oklahoma City, a devastating scene unfolded late one Wednesday night, forever altering the lives of a young family. Two-year-old Matias Armendariz, a Hispanic male, was found among the victims of a heartbreaking murder-suicide that claimed the lives of his entire family.
On the evening of August 16, 2023, police responded to a domestic call at the family's home. Inside, they discovered a scene of unimaginable horror.
Matias, his 9-year-old sister Hillary, and his 5-year-old sister Damaris, had all been fatally shot. Their mother, 29-year-old Cassandra Flores, was also found deceased at the scene. The perpetrator of this tragic event was the children's father, 28-year-old Ruben Armendariz.
Investigators determined that Ruben Armendariz shot his estranged wife and their three children before turning the gun on himself. When officers arrived, Ruben Armendariz and one of the children were still alive and were transported to a local hospital, but both later succumbed to their injuries. The couple was reportedly married but separated at the time of the incident.
The investigation into the motive for the killings was in its early stages, with law enforcement working to piece together the events that led to the tragedy. A family member reportedly discovered the horrific scene after receiving a troubling call from Ruben Armendariz in which he stated, 'I messed up.' There were no outstanding suspects in the case, as it was determined to be a murder-suicide. Prior to this incident, police had not received any calls for domestic disturbances at the residence.
