Court records: Murder-suicide suspect was struggling with depression

June 12--Danny Lee Luster was struggling with depression when he shot and killed his wife and their dog, critically injured their son and then killed himself in the family's home in east Vancouver Monday, court records show.

A search warrant affidavit reveals new details about the murder-suicide at about 5:20 a.m. Monday at 13007 N.E. 52nd St. in the North Image neighborhood. Most notably, the court document shows that Luster's son, Matthew Luster, 23, was shot at close range in the abdomen when he attempted to stop his father's shooting rampage with a SKS rifle and a struggled ensued. He remained in critical condition early today in the intensive care unit at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center.

The affidavit also says that Daniel Luster had recently been showing signs of depression.

"The family was in the process of making him an appointment with a mental health professional," said Vancouver police Detective Carole Boswell.

Vancouver police were called to the residence when neighbors heard gunshots and screaming inside the Luster residence. Patrol officers entered the home and found Danny Luster with a gunshot wound to the head inside the living room. They found the bodies of his wife, Sandra Luster, and the family dog's inside a bedroom. In the other bedroom, they found Matthew Luster who was calling for help.

During a search of the residence, detectives found five rifles, including the suspected murder weapon, two shotguns, boxes of ammunition, shell casings and live rounds, according to court records. They also found a prescription for alprazolam, also known as Xanax, for Danny Luster. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and depression. One of its side effects can be thoughts of suicide, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The Clark County Medical Examiner's Office reported today that Danny Luster died of a gunshot wound to the head and neck, and Sandra Luster died from a gunshot wound to the head. The office determined her death was a homicide, while Danny Luster's manner of death was a suicide.

Vancouver police continue to investigate the case.

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