Florida Family Massacre: Tonya Thomas, Florida mom, killed her four kids then herself, police say

(CBS/AP) PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. - Authorities say a Florida woman shot and killed her four children before shooting herself at a Port St. John home.

Sheriff's deputies in Brevard County said 33-year-old Tonya Thomas on Tuesday shot 17-year-old Pebbles Johnson, 13-year-old Jazlin Johnson, 15-year-old Jaxs Johnson and 12-year-old Joel Johnson. She then took her own life.

Sheriff spokesman Tod Goodyear says three of the children went to a neighbor's house early Tuesday to say their mother had shot them. The mother then called the children back to the house and killed them.

"It appeared they had been shot," Goodyear said. "The mother of the children came out of the residence next door, called for the children to return home, at which time they left and went back to the house."

The neighbor then heard gunshots and called 911. Deputies found Pebbles Johnson dead in the front yard of the home at 7245 Bright Avenue.

Another neighbor told deputies that Thomas sent a text message in the middle of the night saying she wanted to be cremated with her children, Goodyear said.

Goodyear said the father of the children lives elsewhere in Brevard County and was very distraught upon hearing the news.

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