DALLAS — One of seven family members shot dead in Texas on Christmas Day sent text messages before her uncle opened fire on the gathering, saying he was there dressed as Santa Claus and apparently wanted to be "all fatherly."

Authorities say 56-year-old Aziz Yazdanpanah killed his estranged wife, two teenage children and three other family members before turning the gun on himself.

Police responding to a 911 call made at 11:34 a.m. Sunday found the bodies inside an apartment in Grapevine, near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

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Yazdanpanah's niece, 22-year-old Sara Fatemeh Zarei, texted a friend just before 11 a.m. saying she had arrived at the apartment and that Yazdanpanah was there. At 11:15 a.m. she texted to say her uncle "wants to be all fatherly and win father of the year."

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