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TEXAS, U.S. – Chasing a mysterious case on Friday, authorities in Texas said that they had launched an investigation into the deaths of five people in two separate incidents and were certain there was a common link connecting the two cases.

Sharing details about the cases, Robstown City Secretary Herman Rodriguez said that shortly before 7 pm on Friday, the Robstown Police department had received a call about an “active shooter”  at a nursing home in a Corpus Christi suburb.

He said that when officers arrived at the Retama Manor Nursing Center in Robstown, they found three people, two men and a woman dead in a room. 

Officers also found a handgun near one of the male bodies. 

Rodriguez said that a while later, following a phone call from family members of those found dead in the nursing home, police were prompted to visit the residence of one of the victims in the incident.

However, when they arrived at the residence, they found two more men dead inside the house. 

Rodriguez pointed out that the suspected shooter was believed to be among the dead.

As both the cases unfolded parallelly, Rodriguez said that it became apparent that the shootings could be related.

In an official statement, the Robstown police said, “We can confirm there were three fatalities, two males and one female.”

The statement added that not long after the nursing home discovery, “two additional men were discovered at a residence,” which officials suspected was the home of the shooter.

Sheriff Jim Kaelin too confirmed in a separate statement, “The second location with two additional bodies” is “believed to be related with the first” location.

The investigation was being led by the Robstown Police Department and subsequently, the police confirmed, “Texas Rangers will aid in the potential murder investigation.”

Robstown Police Chief Erasmo Flores said in the statement, “Our hearts go out to the victim’s families and the residents, visitors and employees at Retama Manor who experienced this tragedy.”

Investigators began with efforts to establish the identities of the victims, and eventually turned their focus on establishing a possible motive.

On Saturday, addressing a news conference, Police Chief Flores revealed that all the people found dead in the two incidents had been identified. 

He first identified a 60-year-old man, Richard Starry who was found dead inside a room at the Robstown-based nursing center.

Chief Flores explained that Starry fatally shot his father and stepmother in the nursing home, after killing two other people at the couple’s residence nearby.

The 60-year-old gunman was found dead inside the nursing center, alongside his 85-year-old father, identified as Ernest Starry, and stepmother, Thelma Montalvo.

Robstown police lieutenant Enrique Paredez said that the handgun was discovered near Starry’s body inside the nursing home on Friday.

Further, he noted, “At this time the evidence points to a murder-suicide. But the investigation is still premature to determine a motive.”

Lt. Paredez added that Ernest Starry was a resident at the nursing home, and his wife, Thelma Montalvo was visiting him there when the tragic incident unfolded.

He further revealed that the bodies found at the residence nearby were of the couple’s 13-year-old adoptive son and Montalvo’s 41-year-old son. 

Neither of their names were released by the police.

However, the police said that they believe that the two victims at the residence were killed before those at the nursing home.

Commenting on the incident at the news conference, Mayor Amanda Barrera said, “Everyone in the community and surrounding area is heartbroken. This is going to be something that is going to take a long time for our community to heal from.”

Meanwhile, Police Chief Flores said, “It’s been a long night and into this morning. We’re doing the best we can with this horrible incident.”