Frankston police release statement giving details, identities of people involved in murder-suicide

FRANKSTON, TX (KLTV) - Frankston police have released full details regarding a murder-suicide in their city on Friday.

Authorities responded to a residence in the 11000 block of Hillside Drive in Frankston in connection to the fatal shooting at a Frankston gas station, Kwik Stop, on Friday morning at 11:15.

The shooter, dead of  a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse, has been identified as Grady Howell, age 76, of Frankston.

The victim was Tammy Wynette Stevens, age 50, of Frankston.

Police say that when officers arrived at the scene of the convenience store on Pine Street, she was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. A male who was sitting beside her was struck in the arm by the same bullet that killed Stevens, police say. He was injured, but stable.

The suspect was not at the scene when police arrived. 

Police reviewed video footage of the crime, and it showed the shooter, Howell, enter the store where the female and male victims were seated, playing video games. They say it showed the suspect walk up to the female, speak with her, and then pull a revolver from the front of his clothing and put the gun to her head, shooting her. 

Officers were able to identify the shooter from the video footage. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office, along with the Henderson County and Cherokee County sheriff's offices, then assisted in the manhunt for the suspect.

Deputies spotted the suspect vehicle at a residence in Henderson County, on the west side of Lake Palestine. The other agencies, along with Texas Ranger Nick Castle, were called to assist in negotiations with the suspect.

Howell was in the yard of a residence and spoke with our reporter before officers arrived. Our reporter, not knowing Howell was the shooter, spoke with him, thinking he was possibly a neighbor. He said that he seemed confused, and that Howell said he knew Tammy Stevens. He said that he had been trying to get his car back from her, but she would not return it. When asked if he had lent it to her, he said that he had not, that she had taken it and would not return it. When asked if he had reported it to police, Howell said he had, but that they were unable to do anything about it at the time. He then went inside the residence. Police have not commented on this statement by Howell.

Officials arrived at the scene. Sheriff Hillhouse reported the suspect was originally cooperating with law enforcement negotiators, but suddenly stopped responding to authorities on the phone.

According to Frankston police, Chief Goodman saw through a rifle-mounted scope a body on the carport of the residence. Officers approached and saw that it was the suspect, Grady Howell, and that he was deceased from a gunshot wound to the head.

Police say it is not known what the relationship was between Howell and the two people he shot.

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