Grapevine police said Wednesday that the gunman who killed six relatives in a Christmas Day murder-suicide placed the 911 call that led officers to the apartment where the shooting occurred.
Sgt. Robert Eberling said on Tuesday that investigators reviewing the tape could make out a muffled cry for help in the background of the 911 call.
Police said Wednesday that Azizolah "Bob" Yazdanpanah made the 911 call after shooting his estranged wife, his two children, his wife's sister and her husband and their daughter.
Grapevine police said later Wednesday that a male caller can be heard whispering, "Help, help." When the operator asked for additional information, he said "shooting people."
Here is a transcript of the call:
911 Operator: "Grapevine 911, where is your emergency?"
911 Operator: "Hello, Grapevine 911."
Caller: "Help. Help."
911 Operator: "You need help?"
Caller: (whispering) "A shooting"
911 Operator: "Are you sick?"Caller: (whispering) "Shooting people."
911 Operator: "What was that?"
Caller: (Breathing)
911 Operator: "Do you need an ambulance or police?"
Caller: (Breathing)
911 Operator: "Hello?"
Caller: (Breathing)
911 Operator: "One moment."
911 Operator: (talking to other people) "I have a heavy breather on phone... (conversation trails off)
According to search warrants released earlier Wednesday, the call disconnected after a male caller whispered and asked for help. When 911 dispatch called back, no one answered the phone, and officers were sent to the apartment complex.
The documents also showed Yazdanpanah planted a gun on one of the victims in an attempt to make it look like he was not the only shooter.
An officer removed a Smith and Wesson handgun from the right hand of Mohamad Hossein Zarei, his brother-in law. Another officer removed a Glock from Yazdanpanah's right hand.
Police said Yazdanpanah planted the gun on Zarei before he turned the gun on himself. Forensic evidence shows that Zarei never fired a gun, police said.
Yazdanpanah, 56, fired the fatal shots that killed his wife, Fatemah "Nasrin" Rahmati, 55; their daughter, Nargis "Nona" Yazdanpanah, 19; and their son, Ali Yazdanpanah, 14. Rahmati's sister, Zohreh Rahmati, 58; her husband, Zarei, 59; and their daughter, Sahra Fatemah Zarei, 22; were also killed.
The 911 call was made 18 minutes after Sahra Zarei sent a sarcastic text message to her boyfriend about Azizolah Yazdanpanah showing up to the party dressed as Santa that read: "Awesome, I guess he's trying to be father of the year."
Family friends have said that Yazdanpanah's visit to his estranged wife's apartment was likely unexpected.
Police still aren't sure of a motive and say they may never know what led to the mass shooting, the worse crime in Grapevine history.
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The six victims were buried Thursday as part of a private burial. A private memorial for the entire family will be held Friday.
School friends of Nona and Ali Yazdanpanah organized a memorial Wednesday night at at Parr Park in Grapevine.
NBC 5's Scott Gordon, Ray Villeda and Elvira Sakmari contributed to this report
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