LONGVIEW, TX – Authorities in Longview say a man faces a murder charge after allegedly shooting his wife and then trying to take his own life. The incident unfolded on September 22, after police were called to the couple’s residence for a welfare check.

When officers arrived at the home, they discovered Kathleen Bullock, 62, dead from a gunshot wound inside a bathroom. Police identified her husband, Lavan Bullock, 66, as the primary suspect in the case. According to investigators, Lavan Bullock was still at the scene and had suffered what appeared to be self-inflicted injuries.

Court records indicate that Lavan Bullock sent a series of text messages to a friend shortly after the shooting. In these messages, he purportedly admitted to killing his wife, writing that he “lost [his] mind” before shooting her. He also claimed to have taken 30 sleeping pills in an apparent attempt to end his own life, details outlined in an arrest affidavit.

The friend who received the messages told police he was instructed by Lavan Bullock to notify a preacher and to ensure the couple’s daughter did not enter the house. Police say Bullock expressed regret in his text, telling his friend, “Thank you my friend! I’m so sorry to end it this way!”

The affidavit further revealed that Lavan Bullock attributed his actions to what he described as years of emotional and physical abuse at the hands of his wife. In addition, the friend relayed to police that Kathleen Bullock had asked her husband for a divorce just one month prior to the shooting.

Neighbors told police that Lavan Bullock suspected his wife was involved in an extramarital affair. This information, coupled with the pending divorce, provided what authorities believe may have been the motive for the tragic incident.

After being treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Lavan Bullock was taken into custody and transferred to the Gregg County Jail. He has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held on a $1 million bond, as ordered during his September arraignment.

Police have not released further details about the ongoing investigation or whether additional charges could be filed. The Bullock family has not publicly commented on the case.

Authorities continue to investigate, while neighbors describe the couple as quiet and say the incident has left the community in shock.