May 15--A mother and her four children were found dead this morning at a Brevard County home after neighbors heard gunfire early Tuesday, authorities said.
Deputies say 33-year-old Tanya Thomas shot and killed her four children before turning the gun on herself before dawn.
Thomas' children -- Joel Johnson, 12; Jazlin Johnson, 13; Jaxs Johnson, 15; and Pebbles Johnson, 17 -- were shot, deputies said.
Their father was notified of their deaths, and does not live in the home, deputies said.
A neighbor told investigators they were awoken by gunfire and then heard a knock at the door. Three of the children were at the door asking for help. They appeared to be shot, said spokesman Lt. Tod Goodyear.
Thomas came out of her house and called for the children, who then returned to the house. The neighbor called 911 to report the shooting.
Goodyear said when deputies arrived to the 7200 block of Bright Avenue in the community of Port St. John just after 5 a.m. they found Pebbles suffering from a gunshot wound in the front yard.
After retrieving the teen, deputies quickly set up a perimeter. They then heard more shots ring out.
The SWAT team responded, entering the home through the back entrance and found the three children and their mother.
Counseling services are available the schools where the children attended, Goodyear said.
Goodyear said the deputies had contact with the household was a few weeks ago for a domestic disturbance when Jaxs was arrested on a domestic violence charge involving his mother.
A friend of Thomas said the woman sent him a text message in the middle of the night asking that she be cremated along with her children. He did not see that message until he woke up this morning, hours after the killings.
Goodyear would not speculate on whether the Thomas planned the mass murder.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
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