A Texas community is reeling this week following the vicious murders of a beloved couple — one of them, a well-known civil servant.
Authorities have identified the slain couple as Leonard “Frank” Ragan, 73, and his wife, Jackie Ragan, who was 72. Bryce Ragan, their son, has been arrested for their capital murders, according to a statement issued by cops.
Leonard was the former city manager for McKinney, serving the northeastern Texas city from 2008 to 2010.
Police in McKinney were asked to check in on the Ragans on the morning of Sunday, December 28, after worried residents called to say they had gone days without having any contact with them, a police statement noted.
When officers did arrive at the Ragan home soon after, they were met by an armed Bryce.
Police said that Bryce, 34, refused to comply with several commands to drop the weapon, and after a brief standoff, two officers at the scene fired their guns, striking the accused killer multiple times, according to a police statement.
Bryce was then taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. In addition to two murder counts, prosecutors have charged him with three counts of aggravated assault of a public servant for struggling with the police who detained him.
The Ragans’ bodies were eventually found in the living room of their home.
“We have learned that former City Manager Frank Ragan and his wife were tragically found deceased in their home,” McKinney City Manager Paul Grimes said in a statement about the killings. “Mr. Ragan served the McKinney community from March 2008 to June 2010. Our condolences and prayers are with the family. We are unable to comment further while this is an active investigation.”
“I was shocked,” explained former McKinney mayor Brian Loughmiller, speaking to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. “Over the holidays, the vision you have of everybody is: it’s such a happy time, a celebratory time. Just reminds you it’s not always the case.”
Since his death, Leonard’s friends and former associates have spoken out, saying he was a serious leader who was dedicated to serving the people of McKinney. They said it was Leonard who ushered the city through a significant development period.
There are “no words to make sense of something like this,” former mayor George Fuller said to CBS News.
“I’ve lived here in this neighborhood for 15 years and this neighborhood has always been very safe. I’ve never seen any major incidents, definitely nothing like this,” Zach Barrett, who lives nearby, told CBS News. “But as far as I know, I’ve never seen anything remotely close to this in the 15 years that I’ve lived in this neighborhood.”
Police have not disclosed the exact causes of death for the two victims. The two officers who fired their weapons during the standoff have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard department policy.
Fuller said that Sunday’s tragedy reminded him of another recent high-profile parricide.
“This is on the heels of a nationally known tragedy, you know, with Rob Reiner, and so when you have a family member, or appears to be a family member, commit this crime, it’s just really unbelievable, it’s surreal, it’s heartbreaking,” Fuller said.
Fuller added that Ragan often spoke fondly of his family, which makes his murder hard to accept.
