Travis County triple homicide suspect said he was "trying to get away from them": affidavit

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas - New details have emerged about the triple homicide at a Travis County home last Thursday.

27-year-old Joshua Dahan of Pflugerville has been charged with capital murder and is currently in custody.

He is accused of killing his parents, 62-year-old Armand Dahan and 63-year-old Jami Dahan, and his older brother, 31-year-old Noah Dahan. All three victims are from Pflugerville as well.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Travis County triple homicide: Man accused of killing parents, brother

New details

What they're saying:

Court paperwork shares new details about the investigation and Dahan's arrest.

The investigation

A welfare check for Jami Dahan led Travis County sheriff's deputies to the home in the 17900 block of Civorno Drive at around 8:30 a.m. May 7. 

Jami had not shown up for work and the caller could not reach Armand either. The caller also said Joshua lived with them.

Deputies found the front door open and three bodies inside the house and garage with gunshot wounds.

Detectives also recovered a 9mm Glock with an empty magazine inside the home and spent shell casings near the bodies. The affidavit says that it did not appear the victims defended themselves with a gun and there was no forced entry into the home.

3 dead in Travis County shooting

Three people were found dead in a Travis County home, the sheriff's office said.

Detectives later learned that deputies had encountered Joshua in West Lake Hills just an hour before the welfare check call. Joshua was reportedly having a mental breakdown and said he was heading from Pflugerville to his grandmother's house.

Joshua was seen on body-worn camera footage in "obvious emotional distress" and said he was "trying to get away from them." He admitted to living with Jami and Armand Dahan and said they were hurting him and would hide his belongings and manipulate him.

At no point did Joshua ask deputies to contact his parents despite saying they took care of him. Deputies walked Joshua to his car and let him leave to go find his grandmother. 

Detectives later obtained video from a neighbor's home surveillance system of a car similar to Joshua's leaving the area at a high rate of speed. The video was taken at 5:47 a.m. May 7, just about 20 minutes after loud banging was heard by a neighbor coming from the direction of the Dahans' home.

Family interviews also revealed that Joshua had an interest in weapons, was taking meds for his mental health and had his meds changed recently.

The arrest

At 11:45 a.m. May 7, Joshua was found at a North Austin McDonald's after his car was found empty near Norwood Park Boulevard, almost 17 miles away from the home.

He was detained with the help of US Marshals and Austin Police SWAT and taken to Dell Seton for medical evaluation.

ATCEMS reports that Joshua was "delusional" and "uncooperative." He also claimed to ATCEMS and hospital staff that he was a victim of sexual abuse.

At the time he was detained, he had his passport and $300 in cash. Detectives also noted possible blood on his shoes and minor abrasions to his knuckles and knees.

Dig deeper:

The Glock found on scene was discovered to have been purchased by Joshua on April 12. He also has a Texas license to carry, according to the affidavit.

Joshua also has a Texas real estate license which is listed as inactive.

Joshua's previous criminal history in Travis County includes a state-jail felony meth possession charge in 2024 which the Travis County DA's office did not pursue, and a misdemeanor unlawful carry of a weapon which was dismissed last year.