Man Kills Terminally Ill Wife And Daughter, Calls Police On Himself Before Suicide

A 64-year-old Florida man fatally shot his wife and stepdaughter before taking his own life, police said.

Thomas Schultz contacted 911 shortly past 6:15 a.m. Wednesday and asked for someone to be sent to "secure" his residence in Graham Yarden Drive in Riverview, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said at a news conference later that afternoon.

"We are in an impossible situation with no way out," Schultz told the dispatcher, according to Chronister.

The dispatcher attempted to calm Schultz, but the retired Air Force serviceman said he had to get off the phone, the New York Post reported.

"I'm fixin' to shoot myself," Schultz was quoted as saying by authorities.

Deputies later arrived at Schultz's home, where they found the elderly veteran dead on the back porch with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a report by the Tampa Bay Times said. There was a revolver next to him, according to police.

Responders found the body of Schultz's 84-year-old wife, Joy, on the bed of the first bedroom they entered. She had been killed in her sleep, the sheriff said.

Authorities then found Schultz's stepdaughter in a hospital bed with a feeding tube. The woman, who was in her 50s, was also shot and killed in her bed, police said.

Both Schultz's wife and stepdaughter had terminal illnesses, family members were cited as saying by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Schultz had no criminal history, and police have never been called to his home before, according to Chronister.

The Air Force veteran once talked about his role as a caretaker for his wife and stepdaughter during a conversation with his neighbor, Troy Quinn.

"He was saying it’s kind of stressful, kind of getting overwhelming," Quinn told the Tampa Bay Times. "I said, 'I'm here for you if you ever need to talk, and if there's anything I can do, let me know.' He said he would."

Chronister reminded the public that May is Mental Health Awareness Month during Wednesday's press conference.

"There is no such thing as ‘an impossible situation’ with no way out. There is always hope, there is always help. It’s OK not to be OK; it’s just not OK not to ask for help," the police chief said.

Chronister also noted that the 911 dispatcher who answered Schultz's call was “struggling more than normal” as she had also lost a family member to suicide.

The death of the Schultz family reportedly marked at least the ninth suspected murder-suicide involving people from the Tampa Bay area this year.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.