Driver in homicide-suicide identified

The driver involved in what police have described as a murder-suicide has been identified as Vanessa Villarreal, 19, of Bovina, according to the acting Parmer County sheriff.

Acting Sheriff Eric Geske declined to identify the 16-year-old boy who also died in the Jan. 16 incident.

Authorities have said both victims were shot to death in the Suburban Villarreal was driving.

Police pursued the Suburban from Bovina to Farwell after Bovina police stopped the vehicle in Bovina, Geske said. As police approached, the vehicle pulled back onto the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 60 and began traveling toward Farwell.

Geske said about halfway between Bovina and Farwell, police reported a gunshot inside the Suburban. When police caught up to the vehicle at the Farwell Cemetery, Geske said, they found both Villarreal and the boy deceased.

Geske on Friday declined to release any additional information. The incident is under investigation by Texas Rangers, who could not be reached for comment on Friday.

An obituary notice described Villarreal as "a fun, free spirit" and an enthusiast for Sour Patch candies, who "loved her family, especially her nieces and nephews."

Further, the death notice stated, “Vanessa would encourage us all to randomly help and care for others, and above all, always try to do better.”

It wasn't clear Friday when authorities would identify the boy or provide details about motives.