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Texas mom who killed her daughters wanted husband to 'suffer'

FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas — The husband of Christy Sheats, the Texas mom and gun advocate who killed her daughters before a police officer fatally shot her last week, told investigators his wife attempted suicide multiple times and had a documented history of mental illness.

Jason Sheats, 45, thought Christy Sheats, 42, planned to talk about a decision on whether or not to file for divorce when she called a family meeting on June 24. Instead, she pulled out a gun, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office.

Christy Sheats shot her daughters, Taylor, 22 and Madison, 17. She killed Madison Sheats as the teen tried to flee from the family's home in Katy. Responding officers saw Christy Sheats fire the final shot at Taylor Sheats.

She approached the officers and ignored orders to drop her gun, deputies said. A Fulshear police officer then opened fire, killing her.

Jason Sheats was not injured. It was his birthday.

"She wanted him to suffer," Sheriff Troy Nehls said in a news conference Wednesday.

Jason Sheats told deputies his wife suffered from depression and anxiety. She was taking several medications to cope with both and had been treated at three private mental health facilities in the last four years.

The couple had discussed divorce. A neighbor told KTRK the couple recently got back together after a separation.

Nehls said authorities responded to the Sheats family home 12 times between 2012 and June 2016.

Three times they were called due to suicide attempts by Christy Sheats. Once she called 911 to speak with a deputy. One time an argument brought officers to the home. On another occasion, the sheriff's office's Crisis Intervention Team called for authorities.

The remaining calls were false alarms or medical related, Nehls said.

Jason Sheats told deputies she inherited the gun used in the shooting, a .38 caliber handgun, from her grandfather. She had applied for a permit to carrying a handgun but was denied.

Deputies are still working to determine why the application was denied.