Man who killed estranged wife, 7 others had drinking problem

Plano police and the Texas Rangers work the scene of a shooting at a home in the 1700 block of West Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, Texas, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. Multiple people were fatally shot to death, and their attacker was killed by a police officer Sunday night, authorities said. (David Woo/The Dallas Morning News via AP) Plano police and the Texas Rangers work the scene of a shooting at a home in the 1700 block of West Spring Creek Parkway in Plano, Texas, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017. Multiple people were fatally shot to death, and their attacker was killed by a police officer Sunday night, authorities said. (David Woo/The Dallas Morning News via AP)

By Associated Press September 13, 2017 3 min read

PLANO, Texas (AP) – Meredith Hight had gathered friends at her suburban Dallas home for a day of grilling and watching football when her estranged husband showed up and opened fire, killing her and seven others before a police officer killed him.

Plano police have said that an officer responding to calls about shots fired Sunday evening saw bodies in the backyard and heard shots. The officer went inside, confronted 32-year-old Spencer Hight and fatally shot him. Police say he shot nine people in the home and that seven died there. One of the two wounded victims died at a hospital.

Among those killed was 31-year-old Rion Morgan, who was a groomsman in the couple’s wedding, The Dallas Morning News reported . Also killed were Anthony “Tony” Cross, 33; Olivia Deffner, 24; James Dunlop, 29; Darryl Hawkins, 22; Myah Bass, 28; and Caleb Edwards, 25.

Meredith Hight, who was 27, filed for divorce in July after six years of marriage. The divorce hadn’t been finalized yet. Her mother, Debbie Lane, said her daughter’s gathering on Sunday was the first party she was hosting on her own.

Records show the couple got married in Collin County in September 2011. They exchanged ceremonial vows during a Caribbean cruise the following year.