Dallas police say the fatal shooting at a hotel in far North Dallas that left a man, woman and two children dead Tuesday afternoon may have been a murder-suicide.
Officers responded to a 911 call at about 3:09 p.m. at the Staybridge Suites Dallas-Addison at 16060 Dallas Parkway near the intersection of Keller Springs Road and the Dallas North Tollway. Investigators said when hotel management attempted to enter the room after their stay had expired, they heard a gunshot inside the room and called police.
Dallas police on Wednesday identified the adults found in the hotel room as Charles Schoenfeld, 41, and Brittany Howard, 31.
The two children were brothers who attended schools in the Richardson Independent School District.
"Today has really been shocking, it's obviously tragic," said Richardson ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stone. “It’s been a day of a lot of sadness, heavy hearts and grieving.”
Charlie Schoenfeld,12, was a seventh grader at Park Hill Junior High and his brother, Noah, who was 9 years old, was in fourth grade at Bowie Elementary School.
“I spent the day with all of the teachers that Noah and Charlie had in class and it was a wonderful day of hearing just loving sentiments about two wonderful wonderful special boys," expressed Stone. "Noah was described as loving and kindhearted and someone who was always there to someone who needed a friend. Charlie loved sports, he was a great team member, he was a great student, and a great friend to so many students."
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Stone said Charlie was supposed to compete in a track meet on Thursday.
The superintendent said a lot of students from the junior high went home on Wednesday after hearing the difficult news.
"A lot of seventh graders already knew about it and the news was spreading and we had a lot of students, over a hundred at a time, who gathered, counselors were set up to talk and a number of them went home with their parents," Stone said.
Stone said the elementary students did not know and they sent letters home with families so parents could have a conversation with their children.
She said she spoke with the brothers' mother and said she wanted to let her know that the district is thinking of her and their family.
"I did have an opportunity to speak to their mom today and of course there are no words to describe that. At the time what I wanted to make sure is that I connected with her as a mom, mom-to-mom, to let her hear the love, the care and the concern, and how everyone felt about those two special boys.” Stone said.
"These were two special boys," Stone said. "They’re going to be greatly missed by their friends, teachers and our whole school community."
NBC 5's Sophia Beausoleil contributed to this report.
