SAN ANTONIO, TX – Authorities Investigate Apparent Murder-Suicide Involving Southeast Side Married Couple
A quiet neighborhood on San Antonio’s Southeast Side is grappling with the tragedy of an apparent murder-suicide that claimed the lives of a long-married couple on Monday afternoon. According to an update from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), officers responded to a distress call just after 1:40 p.m. at a residence in the 2400 block of Christian Drive, located just west of Loop 410 and south of Rigsby Avenue.
Upon entering the home, responding officers discovered two individuals suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has since identified the deceased as Robert Charles Byrd, 64, and his wife, Gina Byrd, 62.
In a Tuesday morning update, SAPD confirmed that the case is being treated as a murder-suicide. According to the medical examiner, Gina Byrd died from at least one gunshot wound, and her death has been officially ruled a homicide. Robert Charles Byrd was also found deceased from a gunshot wound, which has been classified as suicide.
A Family’s Worst Fears Realized
At a press conference held Monday afternoon, SAPD spokesperson Washington Moscoso stated that the investigation was launched after family members grew concerned about the couple’s well-being. When they were unable to reach them and noticed something was amiss, they contacted the police to request a welfare check.
What officers found upon arrival was devastating: a married couple, presumably longtime residents of the area, lying fatally wounded in their own home.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Moscoso said. “You never expect something like this to unfold in a home where neighbors have known and seen the couple for years. It’s tragic not only for the family but for the entire community.”
A Community in Mourning
Neighbors along Christian Drive were stunned by the heavy police presence Monday afternoon. Many expressed disbelief, saying Robert and Gina had always appeared to be a quiet, private couple who kept to themselves.
“I’ve lived here for 20 years and they’ve always seemed normal,” one neighbor said. “We would wave at each other in the mornings. You just never know what’s going on behind closed doors.”
While no motive has been confirmed by investigators, authorities indicated that there were no signs of forced entry or evidence pointing to the involvement of any third party. At this stage in the investigation, all indications suggest a domestic incident that escalated to fatal violence.
SAPD’s Ongoing Investigation
The San Antonio Police Department’s homicide unit is continuing to investigate, piecing together the timeline of events and interviewing family members and neighbors. Detectives are also reviewing any prior calls for service or reports involving the couple to determine whether there were any warning signs leading up to the incident.
While officials have not publicly disclosed if a firearm was recovered at the scene, they have reaffirmed that no further threat to the public exists and that the incident was isolated to the home.
A Sobering Reminder
This heartbreaking event adds to the growing list of domestic-related fatalities across Texas and the United States. Law enforcement and community advocates are using this tragedy as an urgent reminder of the importance of mental health resources and early intervention in domestic situations.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor. For those in domestic violence situations, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Remembering the Byrds
As investigators continue their work, family members are now left to grieve and come to terms with an unimaginable loss. No public statements have yet been released by the family, and funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.
In the meantime, the Southeast Side of San Antonio mourns alongside them — saddened, stunned, and seeking answers after a tragic July afternoon that turned deadly.