Colleen Nichole Lemmon faces two capital murder charges after her sons, ages 21 and 15, died following an early-morning shooting.
WAXAHACHIE, TX — A 42-year-old Waxahachie woman has been charged with two counts of capital murder after authorities accused her of fatally shooting her two sons inside their home early Thursday, according to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded at about 4:13 a.m. Oct. 1 to a home in the 900 block of Big Sky Drive after a 911 call reporting an unknown emergency. Inside, deputies found Christopher Scott Pitre, 21, and his 15-year-old brother suffering from gunshot wounds. Pitre was pronounced dead at the scene. His younger brother was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died, authorities said. The sheriff’s office has not publicly identified the younger victim.
The boys’ mother, Colleen Nichole Lemmon, was also found at the residence with injuries that authorities described as not life-threatening. She was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. After she was released from the hospital, authorities booked her into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center in Waxahachie on two counts of capital murder.
A probable cause narrative obtained by local news organizations provides additional details about the emergency call and the deputies’ arrival. According to the document, dispatchers initially received a 911 hang-up call and were able to reconnect with a woman who said that all available units were needed. Deputies who arrived at the house encountered a woman inside and later entered the residence. The narrative says Lemmon made a statement indicating that she had shot her children. The allegation in the document has not been tested in court, and Lemmon is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The sheriff’s office said investigators gathered evidence that gave them probable cause to believe Lemmon was responsible for both shootings. Authorities have not publicly announced a motive or provided a detailed account of what they believe happened before the 911 call. They also have not explained the circumstances surrounding Lemmon’s injuries. Those questions remain part of the investigation.
The older victim, Christopher Scott Pitre, was identified by authorities as a Waxahachie resident. The sheriff’s office initially withheld the name of his 15-year-old brother because he was a juvenile. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth later reported that the family identified the younger boy as Brian Pitre. The boys’ father, Scott Pitre, told the station that he had celebrated Brian’s 15th birthday with him at a lake just days before the shooting.
The father told NBC 5 that he wanted justice for his sons. Authorities said he had been notified of both deaths. Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman also issued a statement expressing sympathy to the victims’ father and other relatives and loved ones. Funeral services for the brothers were expected the following week, according to the family’s account reported by NBC 5.
Early reports said Lemmon was awaiting arraignment and that bond had not yet been set. A report published Saturday by People, citing records it reviewed, said Lemmon’s bond was later set at $2.5 million and that she remained in custody. Authorities had not publicly announced additional charges as of Saturday.
The case remains an allegation at this stage. Prosecutors would have to prove the capital murder charges in court, and the available public records do not establish why the shootings occurred. No trial date or other major court proceeding had been publicly confirmed in the reports reviewed Saturday. The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office has said the investigation is continuing.
Author note: Last updated October 3, 2026.