On June 22, 2024, in Houston, Texas, 65-year-old Leonor Hernandez was tragically killed alongside her daughter, Karen Herrera, 43, and son-in-law, Thomas Kupriakov, 38. The incident occurred at Hernandez's apartment on Hammerly Boulevard, where she resided with her son, Bryan J. Fernandez, 27. Herrera and Kupriakov were visiting from Canada and had been staying at the apartment for several days.
Fernandez called 911 around 3:15 p.m., reporting that he had shot three individuals whom he claimed were burglars attempting a home invasion. Upon arrival, Houston Police Department officers found the three victims deceased from gunshot wounds. After interviewing Fernandez and assessing the scene, investigators determined that no home invasion had occurred and that the victims were, in fact, Fernandez's family members.
Further investigation revealed that the Houston Police Department had previously responded to two mental health-related calls at the apartment, once in the prior year and again earlier in 2024. Additionally, court documents indicated that Fernandez had a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated in 2019, for which he served 180 days in jail.
Following his arrest, Fernandez was charged with capital murder for the deaths of his mother, sister, and brother-in-law. He was denied bond during initial court appearances and is scheduled for a subsequent court date on July 24. Family members, including Carlos Flores, Fernandez's half-brother, expressed concerns about his mental health and potential for violence, noting that their mother had often defended him despite these issues.
