11-year-old North Texas girl shot during domestic incident, Midlothian police say
An 11-year-old girl was shot during a family dispute in Midlothian Sunday evening and is recovering after police say a man opened fire outside the home before stabbing himself.
Officers were called to the 400 block of Brook Meadow Drive at 7:13 p.m. on Sunday following several reports of shots being fired inside and outside the home.
Another 911 call came from a resident at 410 Brook Meadow Drive, who said that his father, later identified as 37-year-old Mark Robert Nienhuis, had arrived at the house and started an altercation with other family members. According to the report, after the altercation, Nienhuis went to his truck and got a handgun. He walked back to the house and fired several rounds, one of which struck the caller's 11-year-old sister, the report states. Nienhuis then drove away from the scene.
Nienhuis returned to the house minutes later, where he was confronted by another of his sons who had armed himself with a rifle. They exchanged gunfire in the front yard.
Midlothian police said they believe no one was injured during the second shooting, but houses and vehicles belonging to several neighbors were damaged by gunfire.
Midlothian police officers arrived at the home at 7:17 p.m. and confronted Nienhuis, who had armed himself with a knife. Officers pleaded with him to drop the knife, but he refused and then stabbed himself in the neck. Officers charged him and retrieved the knife.
Nienhuis is currently in police custody at a hospital and is in serious condition due to the stab wound in his neck, Midlothian police say. He faces one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury and eight separate counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The child was taken to Children's Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. She has since been released.
Midlothian PD said there are currently no charges against the second shooter, as it appears his actions were in defense of himself and his family.
The investigation is ongoing.
