SIX DEAD: Suspect accused of killing his parents in San Antonio before continuing murder spree in Austin identified

SAN ANTONIO - A suspect that is linked to six murders, including two people that were found dead inside a home in Northeast Bexar County in San Antonio, has been identified. Police say Shane James, 34, killed his parents in San Antonio and four others in Austin in a violent trail of separate attacks. He had cut off his ankle monitor from a previous misdemeanor domestic violence arrest.

James also had been confronted by police for a mental health call when he was naked at his parents’ home, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said at a news conference. But deputies did not arrest him at that time, despite a warrant for cutting off the ankle monitor.

Salazar spoke about the case at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in San Antonio and said James will be charged with murder or capital murder in his county in the coming days.

Two police officers are recovering from gunshots, including one who was shot in the leg outside a high school in Austin.

A cyclist in Austin was also shot and wounded in a trail of attacks that began Tuesday morning and ended with the suspect crashing his car that evening during a police pursuit, Austin interim Police Chief Robin Henderson said.

United States Army spokesperson confirmed that James "was an infantry officer (11A) in the Regular Army from February 2013 to August 2015. He had no deployments and separated from service August 17, 2015. His last rank held was first lieutenant."

In January of 2022, James was charged with aggravated assault against his mother, father and sister. County bail records say James was bonded out by Texas Organizing Project. The organization is a non-profit police reform group out of Houston that helped the Bexar County District Attorney and Sheriff Salazar get elected.

The two people in San Antonio were found dead just before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday after the Bexar County Sheriff's Office were notified that the suspect that shot an Austin ISD officer early Tuesday morningand killed four more people in Austin had ties to San Antonio.

They were told that James had connections to a home off Port Royal Street near Old Seguin Road on the Northeast Side.

Once deputies arrived, they initially saw water leaking out of the residence and nobody answered to their repeated attempts to make contact with anyone inside.

"The decision was then made to force entry into the residence," said Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. "They began clearing the house and soon thereafter they began reporting that they found one body and then another."

Deputies found the two dead bodies pressed up against a door.According to Sheriff Salazar, the two dead bodies have been identified as 55-year-old Phyllis James and 56-year-old Shane M. James Sr. They are the parents of the suspect, Shane James Jr., according to officials.

Sheriff Salazar believes Phyllis James and Shane James Sr. were killed and then relocated to the position pressed up against the door in a small room.

Investigators believe Shane James Jr. murdered his parents before heading to Austin to continue the murder spree.

Here is the timeline of events that took place Tuesday in Austin:

• 10:30 a.m. - The suspect is believed to have shot an Austin ISD officer at the Northeast Early College High School.
• Noon - The suspect killed a man and woman along Shadywood Drive in South Austin.
• 5 p.m. -The suspect is then believed to have shot a man riding a bicycle along West Slaughter Lane
• 6:45 p.m. - Officers responded to a burglary call at a home along Austral Loop near South Mopac where they found the suspect in the backyard. The suspect immediately shot at officers, hitting one several times. The officer who was shot did return fire, but didn't hit the suspect. The suspect was able to escape by driving off in a vehicle. Officers would later find two people dead inside the Austral Loop home.
  
• 7:15 p.m. - The suspect crashed the vehicle near the intersection of Southwest State Highway 45 and FM 1826. after a short high-speed pursuit with Austin Police. He was taken into custody and charged with capital murder, among other charges.

Sheriff Salazar said the last time someone spoke with Phyllis James and Shane James Sr. was on Dec. 4. One of the suspects' siblings had allegedly spoke with them around 10:00 p.m. that night. The following morning around 9:00 a.m., deputies say a neighbor noticed Shane James Sr's vehicle was not in the driveway and he thought it was odd.

The alleged neighbor thought Shane James Jr. had taken his father's vehicle and left. Deputies believe the double-homicide happened between 10:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 and 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

"Nobody deserves to die the way we believe they died," Sheriff Salazar said.

Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement Wednesday on the incident:

Governor Abbott echoed the sentiment:

Texans grieve for the loved ones of the six Texans who were murdered by a hardened criminal who must never see the light of day again. The murderer also shot two law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Texas is a law-and-order state, and violence will never be tolerated. We thank all state and local law enforcement and first responders who apprehended this criminal and protected their communities. The State of Texas will provide all resources necessary to impose the full weight of law on this criminal for his despicable crimes. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to join us in lifting up in prayer the families and loved ones of those who were killed, as well as the Texans who are recovering from injuries, including an Austin Police Officer and an Austin Independent School District police officer.

The BCSO is encouraging the public to reach out with any information that could relevant in this case.