On December 8, 2023, in Killeen, Texas, 53-year-old Tina McGruder and her 75-year-old mother, Deanne McGruder, were fatally shot in their home on Basalt Drive. The suspect, 26-year-old Louis Lamar Simpson Jr., identified as Tina's son and Deanne's grandson, was apprehended at the scene and subsequently charged with capital murder.
The incident began when Tina contacted emergency services, reporting that her son had threatened and assaulted both her and her mother, and that he possessed
firearms in the residence. Upon arrival, officers encountered Simpson Jr. leaving the home, appearing nervous. Inside, they discovered both women suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite immediate medical attention, Tina and Deanne succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter.
During police questioning, Tina identified her son as the shooter before passing away. Simpson Jr. reportedly expressed resentment towards his mother, stating that her previous actions, including having him incarcerated, were significant mistakes. He admitted to the shootings, indicating he fired multiple times, and even contemplated shooting a responding officer but refrained, noting the officer's readiness to draw his weapon.
Simpson Jr. has a prior criminal record, including a 2021 arrest for assaulting a family member. Following his arrest for the double homicide, he was indicted on charges of capital murder of multiple persons and is currently held in the Bell County Jail on a $3 million bond.
The tragic deaths of Tina and Deanne have deeply affected the Killeen community. Tina, a U.S. Army veteran who served for two decades, had recently embarked on a second career as a counselor after earning a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Texas A&M-Central Texas. Colleagues remember her as a caring and empathetic individual dedicated to giving back to her community.
