On October 2, 1999, around 3:00 am, Tracey Tarlton shot Steven Beard in the stomach with a 20-guage shotgun while he was sleeping in his bed.  Dick DeGuerin said, "Tracey Tarlton shot Steven Beard in the stomach because it was the only thing she could see."  Steven Beard was sleeping on his back; he was morbidly obese, and he had a very big stomach.  Steven fumbled for the phone and dialed 911, "I need an ambulance.  My guts jumped out of my stomach!  Hurry!"

    Years before the shooting, Steven and Celeste decided that Celeste would sleep in the children's wing because his C-Pap breathing machine kept her awake.  Celeste did not hear him calling.  Mr. DeGuerin asked the EMS operator, "But you did hear Mr. Beard say or ask someone to call his wife.  She was in another part of the house?"  Ms. Villegas said, "That's what he said to 911, yes."  Kristina was sleeping in her bed, and Celeste was sleeping in Jennifer's bed.  Jennifer had gone to The Lake House with Amy Cozart (twins' friend) and Christopher Doose (Jennifer's boyfriend).  From outside, the police officers broke into the master bedroom because Kristina and Celeste were in the children's wing and couldn't hear anything.  They were awakened only after Celeste's Cocker Spaniel, Nikki, woke them up because there were lights shining into their room.