Mom Claims Son Was ‘Growling’ at Her Before She Killed Him, Shot Siblings

A Texas mother has been accused of shooting four of her children — killing two of them in the process — after she claimed one of the kids was “growling” as he pointed a gun at her.

Oninda Romelus, who is currently being held on a $14 million bond, has been accused of killing her 13-year-old son, who allegedly pulled a firearm on her while she was driving with the four kids. In addition to the 13-year-old, she also shot and killed her 3-year-old child. Two other children, aged 9 and 8, were also shot and wounded, but they ultimately survived.

Authorities allege that Romelus, 31, carried out the fatal shootings, and noted she was “paranoid about her surroundings” during police interviews. While speaking to investigators, she said she “couldn’t talk about” why she shot her children, who she then took to a local gas station after she called 911, according to court documents.

“Instead of them doing it to me, I’m gonna do it to them,” Romelus said, per the criminal complaint.

When a deputy asked for clarity on what Romelus was referring to, she allegedly replied, “Kill them all.”

Romelus also allegedly told investigators that her children were “with the devil” after their deaths.

Following her arrest, Romelus maintained her innocence while speaking to KHOU 11 during an interview from inside the Brazoria County Jail.

Romelus told the outlet that she is “not crazy” and “not a monster.”

“I remember my oldest aiming the gun at me,” Romelus claimed. “I swear to God my son was growling at me … [I told him], ‘What the f**k? Stop. Stop. Stop.’”

She went on to claim that the 13-year-old “has a history of psychotic episodes threatening people.”

While recalling the day of the incident, Romelus said she gathered her children and started driving around with them because she believed she was being stalked by an ex.

Romelus was also asked about the statements she made to the cops during the interview. “I swear my hand before God, I don’t remember any of that,” she responded.

The suspect went on to defend her character, telling the outlet that she is a Christian who prays every day.

Related: Where Is Susan Lorincz Now? What Happened to ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Murderer

The story of Susan Lorincz and the 2023 shooting of her neighbor, Ajike Owens, captivated America at the time. Now, thanks to Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor documentary, the tragedy is back in the limelight. The gripping documentary tells the story almost entirely through police body camera footage, including the events leading up to Owen’s death. […]

She has been charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the criminal complaint.

Following the shootings, Romelus called 911 and asked authorities to meet her at a gas station in Angleton, Texas. All four children were in the vehicle when authorities arrived and “all of the doors” of the car were opened.

The complaint stated that the cops found one of the kids positioned with their “body hanging halfway out of the front passenger door, with legs in the vehicle and the upper torso and head on the ground.”

“We believe that the evidence shows that this tragedy occurred inside the vehicle, and that Romelus, the mother of the children, is the shooter,” Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman previously said during a news conference on October 5.

Romelus is scheduled to appear in court on January 14, 2026, for a status hearing.