A mother and four children are dead after a SWAT standoff at a home in Port St. John, Brevard County deputies confirmed Tuesday.
Deputies said Tonya Thomas, 33, shot her four children, ages 12 to 17, before turning the gun on herself.
Updates as they happened
6:05 p.m.
- Pictures of the family are released.
4:50 p.m.
- The Department of Children and Families issues a statement ▼ regarding the family. Officials say there was a report of concerns of inadequate supervision.
12:40 p.m.
- Brevard Public Schools issued a statement ▼, saying grief counselors have been sent to the victims' schools.
12:30 p.m.
- Pebbles Johnson confirmed as the female victim found in the front yard.
- At least three of the children killed went to Space Coast Junior-Senior High School.
12:20 p.m.
- First Baptist Church of Port St. John announces a community prayer vigil at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the church's main sanctuary, at 3900 Fay Blvd.
12:10 p.m.
- Lt. Goodyear said the victims were found in several different areas of the house.
- Deputies did not immediately know who owned the gun.
12:05 p.m.
- Lt. Goodyear said Jaxs Johnson had been previously arrested on a domestic charge.
- The children's father was described as very distraught over the deaths. Goodyear said he and Thomas were separated.
- Goodyear was not immediately sure how long the family had been living in Brevard County.
- Thomas reportedly texted a witness to say she wanted to be cremated with her kids. Deputies said they were not immediately sure whether or not Thomas had been planning to kill her children and herself.
12:00 p.m.
- Lt. Goodyear said Thomas shot her four children, and then killed herself. He added the three children who went to the neighbor's house were called back by their mother before they were killed.
- Motive was not immediately known, but Goodyear said there had been some domestic issues.
- The children's father has been notified. Goodyear said he was not living at the home at the time.
11:56 a.m.
- Victims identified as:
- Joel Johnson, male, 12
- Jazzlyn Johnson, female, 13
- Jaxs Johnson, male, 15
- Pebbles Johnson, female, 17
- Tonya Thomas, female, 33
11:55 a.m.
- Lt. Goodyear said a neighbor told deputies three children knocked on their door around 4:54 a.m., appearing to have been shot. The neighbor then called 911.
- When deputies arrived just before 5 a.m., they heard three gunshots, and another at 5 a.m.
- A female was found shot in the front yard. Deputies heard another gunshot around 5:26 a.m. Four other victims were found dead inside the home.
11:50 a.m.
- Lt. Tod Goodyear confirms the Brevard County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation at 7245 Bright Ave., Port St. John.
11:30 a.m.
- News briefing delayed.
9:53 a.m.
- Lt. Goodyear announced another briefing to be held at 11:30 a.m.
- Goodyear confirms deputies had received calls to the same address on previous occasions.
9:50 a.m.
- Goodyear said a female victim was found in the front yard. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
- As the SWAT team showed up, deputies heard gunshots inside the home. Upon entering, they found four more people dead inside.
- Goodyear said they believe the shooter is among the dead. He said all the victims were related, but would not immediately identify the victims.
9:47 a.m.
- Brevard County sheriff's Lt. Tod Goodyear confirms the Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a neighbor reporting gunshots around 5 a.m.
Impact to surrounding area
Bright Avenue has been closed to traffic near Curtis Boulevard as deputies continue to investigate the scene.
The shooting happened just a few blocks away from Atlantis Elementary School, but no lockdowns were ordered. Classes started on time Tuesday.
According to deputies, a neighbor called 911 shortly before 5 a.m. to report gunshots fired.
When deputies arrived, they found a female lying in the front yard. She was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
When the deputies finally managed to enter the home, they found four more people dead inside.
Students react to classmates' deaths
Extra counselors were on hand at Space Coast Junior Senior High School as news broke about their fellow classmates. Shortly before lunch, the entire student body was addressed via intercom.
“They had a long speech about how Jaxs Johnson and their whole family is hurting right now. That we should all take them in our prayers and think about them and it's just the whole, everyone's just thinking about it and you can tell on everyone's faces, wow, this really just happened, you know, they're never going to be here at Space Coast again,” said Pebble’s classmate Corbin Wratchford.
“A lot of people were emotionally breaking down knowing that he was here yesterday, all the seniors were taking their exams and now he's not even here,” said classmate Rachel Yehnert.
“A lot of people have been in groups with their friends and try to cheer each other up and others in shock and denial,” said classmate Brandon Taylor.
School officials said counselors will be available through the rest of the week, as needed.
Statement from Brevard Public Schools
"Brevard Public Schools is saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of four of its students. The police have released the students' names and crisis teams/grief counselors have been sent to the respective schools to help students, faculty and staff deal with this heartbreaking news. The district asks that you please respect the enormity of this loss and do not attempt to call or go on school campuses regarding this situation.
This is a police matter and all issues related to the specifics of this case should be directed to the Brevard County Sheriff's Department. Please contact District Communications with any other questions."
Statement from Department of Children and Family
"The Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified of the ongoing investigation into the tragic deaths of four children and their mother in Brevard County. The Department and all of its employees extend their deepest condolences to the loved ones of this family and offer our full support to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. This ongoing criminal investigation has prompted questions with respect to any past or current Department involvement with the family. On April 9, 2012, the Department received a report in reference to concerns of inadequate supervision. The report indicated that a child in the home had been released from a detention facility and that the child had not been picked up by a caretaker. The matter was resolved during the course of the investigation. Any history with the family will be provided to law enforcement for the purpose of the criminal investigation. Given the active and ongoing criminal investigation, no further information will be released at this time."
Prayer vigil Wednesday night
First Baptist Church of Port St. John said it will host a community prayer vigil Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The vigil is open to the public at the church's main sanctuary, at 3900 Fay Blvd.
The church is less than 2 miles from the scene of the deadly shootings.