Cops: All 4 children dead, mom critical, after Texas father's massacre

(CBS) BAY CITY, Texas - All four children allegedly shot by their father at their southeast Texas home Wednesday have died, say police.

CBS affiliate KHOU reports that two of the boys, ages 3 and 5, died Thursday morning, and the others, ages 2 and 4, died later the same day.

The boys' mother, identified as Laura Gonzales, sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and remains in critical condition. Lt. Andrew Lewis of the Bay City Police Department told KHOU that police were about to speak with the woman and she identified her husband as the shooter.

Authorities say that 24-year-old Jose Avila shot his family before turning the gun on himself around 3:15 p.m Wednesday. He was found dead at the scene.

Lt. Andrew Lewis of the Bay City Police Department said investigators were able to briefly speak with the mother and she identified the shooter as her husband.

Neighbor Juan Elizondo told KHOU Avila had recently lost his job cleaning floors at a grocery store.

"When he shot his wife, she came out running across the street. By that time, my daughter and my niece were walking to come home, and Laura stopped them and asked for a phone. And when they were trying to hand the phone over to Laura, he was swinging a gun at them," Elizondo said. "His (youngest) kid was in the truck, and then he shot his other three kids, and then he shot himself in the head."

Investigators say that there had been a domestic disturbance reported at the home on November 22. Police said Gonzales filed an assault report but decided not to press charges. Elizondo said the couple had split up recently and that Gonzales told him she was worried about getting the police involved because of the couple's immigration status.

The Bay City Wells Fargo bank has established a fund for the family.