On June 22, 2024, in Houston, Texas, 38-year-old Thomas Kupriakov was tragically shot and killed alongside his wife, Karen Herrera, 43, and his mother-in-law, Leonor Hernandez, 65. The incident occurred at an apartment on Hammerly Boulevard, where the family had been staying. The suspect, 27-year-old Bryan Fernandez, initially reported the event as a home invasion, claiming he had shot three intruders in self-defense.
Upon investigation, Houston Police Department officers determined that there was no evidence of a home invasion. Instead, they found that Fernandez had allegedly shot his own family members: his mother, Leonor Hernandez, who lived with him; his sister, Karen Herrera; and her husband, Thomas Kupriakov, who were visiting from Canada.
Fernandez was arrested and charged with capital murder for the deaths of his relatives. Court records revealed that he had a prior conviction for driving while intoxicated in 2019, resulting in a 180-day jail sentence. Additionally, police had responded to his residence twice before for mental health-related calls, once in the previous year and again earlier in 2024.
Family members expressed their grief and shock over the incident. Carlos Flores, Fernandez's half-brother, stated, "My mom, sister, and her husband were all executed in their apartment." He also mentioned concerns about Fernandez's mental health, noting that their mother had often tried to protect him. Fernandez was denied bond and remained in custody, awaiting further court proceedings.
