Parsons man shoots seven-year-old daughter to death in murder-suicide

A Parsons, Kansas man on the run from the police shot his seven-year-old daughter in the head Sunday night, then shot himself to death, according to a news release from the Parsons Police Department.

The girl was airlifted to a Springfield hospital where she died 3:15 a.m. today.

The news release said officers responded to a report of shots being fired at the 1700 block of Chess Avenue and found Joshua Bode suffering from two gunshot wounds to his face. Bode was flown to KU Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

After identifying Zachary Castorena, 27, Parsons, as the suspect, officers surrounded his home at the 3100 block of Corning Avenue and attempted to negotiate with him.

He told police he would kill himself and his daughter. When officers entered the house, they found Castorena dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his daughter hanging on to life.

The investigation is ongoing.