The man believed to be responsible for a Christmas Day shooting in Grapevine, Texas that left him and six members of his extended family dead, was dressed in a Santa suit, USA Today is reporting. Sgt. Robert Eberling, the Grapevine police spokesman, said the shooter arrived at the apartment of his family members shortly before the incident took place, just as they were opening presents.

The identity of the shooter and his victims won’t be released until after the autopsies are performed. Police were called to the apartment after dispatchers received a phone call, on which no one was on the line. When officers arrived at the apartment, four women and three men, between the ages of 18 and 60, were found dead.

When the officers entered the apartment, the victims were found in an adjoining kitchen and living room. Two handguns were found near the bodies in the apartment. Investigators believe that all the victims were related, Grapevine Police Lt. Todd Dearing said, but some were only visiting the apartment.

Many of the neighboring apartments were vacant when officers arrived on the scene, and no witnesses have reported hearing anything. Eberling said the area is fairly quiet, and there hasn’t been a homicide in Grapevine since June 2010.

Written by: Karen Benardello