DALLAS - Young children witnessed the fatal shooting of their mother and her boyfriend just before midnight Tuesday at an apartment in West Oak Cliff, police said.
The two children, both under the age of nine, were home with their mother, 32-year-old Venora Cranford, at the time of the shootings in the 5400 block of Preakness Lane. Officers said they found Cranford shot near the front door and her boyfriend shot in the bedroom. The children were unharmed and are in the care of their aunt.
Police said they have not pinpointed a motive in the shootings, but said the suspect may have known the victims. There was reportedly no sign of forced entry.
Off camera, Cranford's sister said that her sibling's ex-boyfriend was the target of a brutal beating about two weeks ago and said the shootings may be related.
Kauwana Reed said her brother, the other victim, acted as a father to Cranford's two children.
"My brother just turned 24 on his birthday and it's unreal to me," Reed said.
Later in the morning, police took several men into custody at the Artisan Ridge Apartments, located across the street from the shootings. Police have not confirmed the arrests are connected to the crime.
