Texas mother accused of fatally stabbing her three children during social worker’s visit

A Texas mother is accused of fatally stabbing her three of children and wounding two others during a visit from a social worker on Friday, authorities said. 

Police officers responded to a call at around 4 p.m. on Friday in the town of Italy, about 40 miles south of Dallas, said Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Cozby. 

When police arrived at the scene, they found three children—a 6-year-old boy and 5-year-old twins—that had been stabbed to death and two others—a 4-year-old girl and a 13-month-old girl—who were critically wounded. 

The two “seriously injured” children were taken to nearby local hospitals. Their conditions are unknown.

The mother, identified as Shamaiya Deyonshana Hall, 25, was arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder, police said. She is being held on a bond of $2 million, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“They gained their wings,” said Shamelia Anderson, a relative of the victims. “Those were beautiful little babies.”

According to police, the murder of the children occurred when a social worker from the Texas Child Protective Services visited the home unannounced after having suspicions that the mother was having unsupervised visitations with her children, according to WFAA.

The children had previously been placed under the guardianship of another relative. 

"We are shocked by this incomprehensible tragedy, and already working with law enforcement to investigate how this happened, and why," the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said in a statement.