Quadruple homicide suspect takes own life

Officials say couple in Imogene Street slayings were mother, stepfather to the man accused

Days after a man, woman and two children were found dead in a burning southwest Houston home, a 23-year-old man suspected in their slayings died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The suspect, identified by police as William Escaño Yah, shot himself as police approached him in a parked vehicle on Thursday, authorities said.

He was transported to the hospital, where he later died, Houston Police Assistant Chief Yasar Bashir said at a news briefing.

Yah, 23, is the son of Elvira Del Carmen Yah Aviles, who was fatally shot along with three family members before their home in the 7500 block of Imogene Street caught fire. The suspect was the stepson of Jairo Escaño

Martinez, the man killed at the home, officials said.

Police have not yet named the couple’s other children, a girl and boy who died in the slayings.

Police Chief Troy Finner previously said investigators believe the fire may have been set intentionally to destroy evidence.

Officers learned in their investigation about a particular vehicle linked to the crime scene. They also identified a suspect whom witnesses had mentioned at the crime scene, Bashir said. As officers approached the missing vehicle — which was parked less than four miles from the Imogene Street home — officials

said the man they’d been looking for held a gun to his head and fired a bullet.

Police also recovered a weapon at the site of the suspect’s apparent suicide, which appeared similar to the gun used in the

quadruple homicide last weekend, according to Bashir. The assistant police chief indicated that investigators will test the weapon to confirm whether it matches the one used to kill the two adults and two children.

Bashir said at the briefing he could not yet identify a motive in the Sunday

killings.

He said officials don’t believe there are additional suspects, but the investigation is continuing.

On the day of the house fire, Finner said that the best thing for the perpetrator to do would be to turn himself in.

Melissa Phillip / Staff photographer Emergency personnel work Sunday at the scene where four people with gunshot wounds were found dead in a house fire on Imogene Street.