The Royse City Fire and Police Departments are investigating two house fires that left a 19-year-old male dead Thursday, officials announced.
Royse City police received a call Thursday afternoon of a male who entered the home of a family member on the 700 block of Valley Court with a firearm and a can of gasoline who then ordered the resident to leave the house.
As officers arrived at the scene, heavy smoke and large flames erupted from inside the house.
At 4:25 p.m., Rockwall dispatch received a call of a second house fire on the 500 block of Janette Court in Royse City. Fire officials from Royse City, Fate, Heath, Rockwall and McLendon-Chisolm responded to both locations and the fires were contained. Both structures sustained significant damage.
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A deceased body that is believed to be that of a 19-year-old male was discovered at the Valley Court residence. Based on evidence from the scene, the deceased male is believed to have intentionally set fire to both homes before taking his own life, officials said.
The residents at both homes are related.
“Basically, it happened just so quickly and so surprisingly. They were just a beautiful family," said Mercedes Granados.
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Granados, who lives across the street, said she had her daughter call 911 after hearing an explosion.
She said the family was in the process of moving from the home on Valley Court to the other after living in the neighborhood for several years.
According to Granados, the 19-year-old was well known by neighbors.
She called his death a shock.
“It’s just very tragic, very tragic for everyone in the neighborhood," she said.
The joint investigation is ongoing and there is no further information at this time.
