Victims Identified In Apparent Murder-Suicide That Has Rattled Tulsa Community

The names of the victims in Sunday’s murder-suicide near 21st and Yale have now been released. Don Roberts told police he shot his wife and daughter before turning the gun on himself.

Family and friends of the Roberts family said they would never expect this act of violence from Don. Their biggest question is "what caused Don to pull the trigger?"

Jasha Lee is still in shock knowing her friends and neighbors of over 20 years are gone. 

"People look at some of these people and think they are monster, and ask 'why would he kill his family,' 'it's an easy way out,' neighbor Lee said. "Nobody knows what other people are going through at the time."

Officers got a call from Don Roberts around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. They said he admitted to shooting his wife Cathy and daughter Lisa at their home. Police said the call-taker stayed on the phone with Roberts and tried to talk with him. When police got to the scene, they found Don and Lisa dead from gunshot wounds.

Paramedics rushed Cathy to the hospital with critical injuries. Lee said Cathy and Lisa had health issues and Don was their caregiver. 

"Everyday life he did everything for them --- cared for them, took them to doctors' appointments, cooked for them," Lee said. 

Lee said Don taught CPR and was also a gun instructor. We spoke to him in 2012 when he worked at a gun range.

The city of Tulsa said Don worked for the Public Works Department for almost 30 years and retired in 2008.

Lee said Don was always busy helping his wife and daughter and that their medical needs were serious at times. She believes Don just wanted his family's pain to end. 

"This may sound crazy, but I think it was from his heart that he knew everybody would be in a better place," Lee said. "I just want people to know that he is not a monster he's a very loving husband and father and cared very much for these ladies, his family," Lee said. 

As of Monday night, Cathy Roberts is still in critical condition. Family members declined to do an interview but asked for prayers.