On December 31, 1971, in Corpus Christi, Texas, gun violence took the lives of multiple members of the Whalen family. Among the dead was 12-year-old Deborah Kaye Whalen, born January 28, 1959, who was buried in Corpus Christi. Other victims listed from that same incident were Kelly Ann Whalen, age 11; Mary Katheryn Whalen, age 3; Robert Wayne Whalen Jr., age 9; and Robert Wayne Whalen Sr., age 33.

Contemporary newspaper archives from Corpus Christi or local official records may hold more detail about the incident and any follow-up legal actions.