๐Ÿ’” HEARTBREAKING FINAL MOMENTS OF A FAMILYโ€™S LAST DAY TOGETHER โ€” THE 2 CHILDREN WHO NEVER GOT A CHANCE. ๐Ÿ˜ข

In a devastating and tragic event, a Houston restaurateur took the lives of his wife and two young children before ending his own life in an apparent murder-suicide. The family, once thought to be living a picture-perfect life, was found dead after neighbors reported not hearing from them for over 24 hours.

Whatโ€™s even more heartbreaking is what was uncovered about their final moments together.

Authorities say the family appeared to be like any other happy family that day โ€” seemingly at peace, with no signs of the horrors that would come. But now, as details of that tragic evening surface, people canโ€™t stop thinking about the innocent children caught in the middle of it all.

Itโ€™s the final moments of their lives, filled with laughter and love, that continue to break hearts and haunt those who learned of their death.

A well-knownย Houston restaurateur fatally shot his wifeย and their two young children before turning the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said Tuesday.

Officers had been sent to 2113 Kingston St. in Houstonโ€™s River Oaks neighborhoodย on Monday evening to check on the welfare of a family because they โ€œhad not been heard from or seen since the previous night,โ€ according to aย police department statement.

Responding police found the bodies of a man, 52; woman, 39; girl, 8; and boy, 4.

โ€œEvidence on scene indicated the incident was a murder-suicide in which the male shot the three victims and then shot himself,โ€ Houston police said.

Property records linked that address to Matthew Mitchell and his wife, Thy Mai Mitchell, owners and operators of popular Houston restaurants Travelerโ€™s Table and Travelerโ€™s Cart.

All four people were shot in the head with Matthew Mitchellโ€™s cause of death listed as a suicide, according to Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences records.

The wife and childrenโ€™s cause of deaths were listed as homicides which took place at 6:11 p.m. on Monday, records showed.

โ€œThy was not only a client, but a great friend. She was a devoted mother and business woman, and we are completely devastated and heartbroken a million times over again,โ€ according to aย statement from South House PR, which represented the restaurants.

โ€œIf there was one thing about Thy, itโ€™s that she was always on her own journey โ€” always looking for the next adventure, and we had a blast doing it together,โ€ the statement added. โ€œShe will be dearly missed by many, including our team, whoโ€™s had the privilege of telling her story the last few years.โ€

Travelerโ€™s Table had been profiled on Guy Fieriโ€™s Food Network show โ€œDiners, Drive-Ins and Dives.โ€

The restaurants have remained open and managers praised employees for coming to work under such trying conditions.

โ€œAs Travelerโ€™s Table and Travelerโ€™s Cart remain open for business, we want to thank our loyal staff, who have shown up and worked through these difficult circumstances, ensuring that we continue to serve our community,โ€ according to aย company statement on Wednesday.

โ€œWe are asking for unity and respect for our privacy as we navigate this immense loss. Hospitality comes from within, and to honor the Travelerโ€™s Legacy, we will continue to welcome you into our restaurants.โ€

Ly Mai, a sister and aunt of the victims, posted pictures of the three in announcing they hadย โ€œpassed awayโ€ on Monday nightย โ€” without mentioning the circumstance of the deaths or identifying their killer.

โ€œOur family is grieving deeply and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time,โ€ the heartbroken sister and aunt wrote.