On December 5, 2023, 55-year-old Phyllis James and her husband, 56-year-old Shane James Sr., were found dead in their East Bexar County home near San Antonio. Authorities identified their 34-year-old son, Shane James Jr., as the primary suspect in those deaths.

Investigators say James Jr. then traveled to Austin and began a series of shootings. Around 10:43 a.m. he allegedly shot an Austin Independent School District police officer near Northeast Early College High School, wounding the officer. Around noon, he is suspected of fatally shooting 32-year-old Emmanuel Pop Ba and 24-year-old Sabrina Rahman in South Austin; Rahman was reportedly trying to protect her child. Later that day a cyclist was shot and injured non-fatally, and James Jr. allegedly broke into a home on Austral Loop and shot to death 56-year-old Katherine Short and her 30-year-old daughter, Lauren Short. An Austin police detective who responded was shot multiple times but survived. James Jr. fled, was involved in a high-speed chase that ended in a crash, and was arrested; he has been charged with capital murder. Investigators reported he had a history of mental health issues and prior arrests for assaulting family members. The motive remains unclear.

Did anyone know Phyllis James or her family and have information about what led up to December 5?