On Saturday, Feb.7, Dallas police found a six-year-old girl unharmed after an apparent murder-suicide that involved one of their own, six-year Dallas Police Department veteran Larry Tuttle.
It is reported that a 911 call came in around 6:13p.m. from Otto Machelle Thomas. After Thomas identified herself as Tuttle’s girlfriend, she began claiming that she shot Tuttle over domestic assault. CBS DFW reports that Assistant Chief Randy Blankenbaker stated in a press conference, that Thomas told 911:
?He was getting ready to hit me again and I just went off. I killed him because he was going to hit me again.?
At the scene, located at the Lake Highlands Landing apartments where Tuttle lived alone, officers arrived to find Thomas armed. During a second 911 call, police can be heard telling Thomas to ?put the gun away? and ?unlock the door.? Shortly after, police say Thomas went out of view when they heard a muffled gunshot.
Before turning the gun on herself, CBS DFW also reports that Thomas ?warned police that her six-year-old daughter was in the apartment and she needed someone to come get her.? When Swat entered the apartment, they found both Tuttle and Thomas dead due to gunshots, and the six-year-old girl in a back bedroom.
Tuttle’s wife, Kandie Morgan reported that she and her husband were separated and she had no idea who Thomas was. Her father George Morgan was also in disbelief and stated:
?It’s a terrible loss. We welcomed him into our family. He’s good as gold. He was just like a son to me, a fantastic man, a good dad, good husband, Christian man. He worked hard and took care of his family. We loved him.?
Tuttle and Kandie Morgan have a 10-year-old son together. The events that took place that day changed and scarred many lives. While the reality of domestic violence is all too real, these types of tragedies, especially when they affect children in such a horrific way, are hard for anyone to comprehend.
With that said, it should be noted that there is no history or evidence of any domestic disturbances or abuse related to Harry Tuttle at this time.
