A man charged with fatally shooting his parents and brother in their Texas home had been studying serial killers and mass shootings like the one at Columbine High School and hoped to carry out his own act of public violence, authorities said Thursday.
Trey Sesler, 22, was arrested Tuesday after police found the bodies of his family members at their home in Waller, about 40 miles northeast of Houston. Police said they've also recovered ammunition and about six weapons, including handguns and long rifles.
"When you have those things, I think you have reached that point you're getting ready, at least physically," Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith said. "You have prepared yourself to go do that massive shooting."
Authorities said Sesler spent time "grading" the work of serial killers and "researching mass shootings in public areas." Asked whether Sesler named specific targets, Waller Police Chief Phil Rehak said: "Time will tell."
Smith said Sesler exhibited escalating criminal behavior that started with him killing pets, then setting fires and shooting at buildings.
"We're thinking he obviously approached a point in his life that he was getting ready to do some act of violence, which he did," the sheriff said. "Was that the end of it, does that stop it? Things like that will never be known."
Sesler, who already was charged with murder and being held on a $3 million bond, was arraigned Thursday on a capital murder charge. Bond on the capital charge was set at $2 million.
Sesler did not immediately have an attorney. Smith said a judge would appoint one for him.
If convicted of capital murder, he could face the death penalty.
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