On a calm Christmas morning, a tragic event unfolded as a man dressed as Santa Claus entered a family gathering and carried out a horrific act. The family had just finished opening their gifts when Aziz Yazdanpanah, 56, arrived in a Santa outfit to visit his children at his estranged wife’s residence in a peaceful neighborhood known for its elaborate holiday decorations.
Unaware of the impending tragedy, one guest messaged a friend about Yazdanpanah’s Santa arrival after the gift exchange. Shortly after being welcomed inside, Yazdanpanah opened fire, leading to the deaths of seven individuals in a devastating murder-suicide plan. Among the victims were his estranged wife, their two teenage children, his wife’s sister, brother-in-law, and niece.
During the chaos, emergency services received a distressing call where faint whispers of “Help me, I am shooting people” could be heard, indicating the unfolding horror. After the ruthless attack, Yazdanpanah turned the gun on himself, attempting to stage the scene to shift blame. The victims included his ex-wife, children, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and niece.
A day before the tragedy, the family had attended a Christmas Eve party at the ranch of Hossein Zarei, Yazdanpanah’s brother-in-law, who had not invited Yazdanpanah. The police, arriving at the scene, discovered a gruesome sight of seven bodies amidst Christmas wrapping paper, indicating a deceptive calm before the tragedy.
The absence of forced entry suggested Yazdanpanah was allowed in by his estranged wife, raising questions about his invitation status. Yazdanpanah used two handguns in the assault, strategically placing them under the Christmas tree amid discarded wrapping paper. The victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head during the frenzied attack.
Text messages from Yazdanpanah’s niece hinted at brewing tensions on the fateful morning, shedding light on the underlying family dynamics. Financial difficulties and strained relationships were reported, with Yazdanpanah feeling marginalized by his sister-in-law’s influence over his family.
The horrifying incident left the town of Grapevine shaken, with authorities describing it as the worst homicide they had encountered. Friends of the family expressed shock at the extent of Yazdanpanah’s violence, highlighting subtle signs of distress they had noticed over time.