On January 28, 2022, 32-year-old James Travis Pitts shot and killed his 6-year-old daughter Riley Pitts, his 13-year-old stepdaughter MaKayla Kleinert, and his 32-year-old wife Barbara Pitts in their Greer Road home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, before fatally shooting himself. Pitts called 911 at approximately 6:24 a.m., confessing to the shootings and stating he was about to kill himself. An off-duty police sergeant responded and attempted to communicate with Pitts, but heard a single gunshot at 6:38 a.m. Riley was found dead in a bedroom. Barbara and MaKayla were found with signs of life and transported to a hospital but both subsequently died. A suicide note and a pistol were recovered from the home.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The death involved firearms. The WSMV article reports the father "shot his wife and two daughters." The NewsChannel5 article states "Police said a suicide note and pistol were found inside the home" and that the 6-year-old and 13-year-old "both had been shot."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple documents describe the child being shot. The WSMV article states that "32-year-old James Travis Pitts shot his wife, 32-year-old Barbara Pitts, and two girls, 13-year-old Makayla Kleinert and 6-year-old Riley Pitts." The NewsChannel5 article states the sergeant "found a 6-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl in separate bedrooms, both had been shot."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
All four documents explicitly describe this incident as a murder-suicide. The Tennessean (Document 1) states "Two children, their mother and father are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Goodlettsville." The WSMV article describes "a father can shoot his wife and two daughters in their home before killing himself." The NewsChannel5 article states "Four people are dead in an apparent murder-suicide."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
James Travis Pitts is identified as the father and perpetrator. Riley Pitts shares the surname "Pitts" with her father James Travis Pitts, strongly implying a biological relationship. The WSMV article describes him shooting "his wife and two daughters" and the Tennessean (Document 1) identifies them as "Two children, their mother and father." The NewsChannel5 article states he "shot and killed his wife and two young daughters."
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the act of a father shooting his wife and children in their home constitutes domestic violence. The WSMV article states James Travis Pitts "shot his wife and two daughters in their home before killing himself." The NewsChannel5 article describes the father calling 911 and reporting "he shot and killed his wife and two young daughters."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The WSMV article explicitly references the perpetrator's mental health. In his 911 call, James Travis Pitts stated: "I just snapped. I don't know. I can't get these thoughts out of my head." Nashville Rescue Mission CEO Glenn Cranfield stated: "The needs of mental health are real. We need to understand that and know that and encourage people to reach out for help." He also said: "There are times of mental health issues that cause people to do things and say things that they wouldn't normally do." The article further notes: "It is troubling to think a person has been treated, gone through the program, has support, is employed serving others, knows he and she are loved, children of God, and this can still happen."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. The perpetrator, James Travis Pitts, called 911 at approximately 6:24-6:30 a.m. and confessed to the shootings before killing himself: "Honestly, I just shot my wife and kids, and I'm about to shoot myself as soon as I see y'all pull up." When dispatch offered help, he stated "there is no coming back from this. I mean, I just killed my family." An off-duty East Precinct sergeant responded and attempted to communicate via PA system, but heard a single gunshot at 6:38 a.m. A suicide note and pistol were found in the home. Notably, the Pitts family had a connection to the Nashville Rescue Mission, where Barbara's story was featured as a "beacon of hope" and a success story. CEO Glenn Cranfield's comments reveal the family had previously gone through the Mission's program and were being held up as an example of successful rehabilitation, making this tragedy particularly striking in the context of support systems that were in place.
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