Mendeke said investigators haven't determined a clear motive for the
shootings. Westerburg lived with his mother in a small cabin about 20
yards from the Nortons' mobile home on the brothers' property.
Phinny Norton, 60, had some "sort of romantic relationship" with
Westerburg's mother, 42-year-old Jennifer Diane Jacques, Mendeke said.
Deputies had been called out to the property in the past because of
domestic disputes but "nothing violent," Mendeke said.
Authorities arrived at the scene after a teenage witness called them.
The teenage boy was with Arthur Norton, 58, when they saw shotgun shells
and broken glass as they approached the Nortons' mobile home, Mendeke
said.
"Mr. Norton enters the house," Mendeke said. "The kid who was with him hears and sees a gun blast and sees Mr. Norton fall to the floor" before running to call authorities.
When officers arrived they heard another gunshot. Not knowing whether
there were multiple gunmen or whether the gunman was dead, authorities
surrounded the homes and began evacuating people nearby.
It was during that search that they found Jacques' body. The family's dog had also been killed.
Mendeke said he called in about 50 to 60 officers from different
agencies as well as a Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT team out of
caution. Authorities closed the road leading to the property and they
stayed there overnight.
"I didn't know how many shooters I had in the Norton residence when I found the mother," he said. "You're looking at farm- and ranchland. You could get into a dangerous situation."
The SWAT team finally entered the Nortons' mobile home on Saturday
afternoon and found the Norton brothers and Westerburg dead inside.
Mendeke said Westerburg had shot himself in the head.
Source: AP
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