Two Texas A&M University students were shot and killed Friday in the home they shared in south College Station.
The brother and sister were rushed to College Station Medical Center. Travis Wilson Joiner, 23, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital; Rachel Kate Joiner, 21, died after surgery, officials said.
College Station resident John Darrell Thuesen -- a 25-year-old part-time Blinn College student -- was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of capital murder.
He was booked into the Brazos County Jail just before 5:30 p.m. and was being held without bail.
Travis Joiner was shot in the chest; police did not release the location of Rachel Joiner's gunshot wound.
The shooting happened just after 12:40 p.m. inside a two-story home on Walcourt Loop off Graham Road in Edelweiss Gartens.
College Station police Lt. Rodney Sigler said Thuesen placed a call to 911 and waited for police at the house. He was arrested without incident, Sigler said. A handgun was recovered in the house, Sigler said.
Thuesen's vehicle, parked a few hundred yards from the house and around a corner, was towed Friday afternoon, Sigler said.
Neighbors said they believed Rachel Joiner and Thuesen had been dating, but authorities could not confirm that Friday night.
Charles Rae, who lives two houses down from the Joiners' home, said he was shocked to learn of the double shooting. He moved into the neighborhood in May, he said.
"I was thinking burglary, if anything, when I pulled up," he said, adding that he's a private investigator. "I see this kind of thing, but not next to your house, not close to home."
He described the neighborhood as safe, with teachers and administrators living nearby. "People take care of their kids and have good jobs," he said.
Rae's son, Jacob, a junior at A&M Consolidated High School, said the neighborhood is usually quiet and people are friendly but keep to themselves.
"When I saw it wasn't my house, I breathed a sigh of relief," he said. "It's very uncommon around here for stuff like this to happen."
The Joiners' parents bought the home in March 2007. Travis Joiner was a senior aerospace engineering major; his sister, a junior, was majoring in geology. She also was enrolled at Blinn part time. They were the children of Wayne and Shirley Joiner of Eldorado.
Eldorado, about 45 miles south of San Angelo, has a population near 2,000.
29 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
theQUeEn_n_CS On:
Sunday, August 02, 2009 9:14 AM
Comment Title: it is high time!!
There is a time 2 laugh and a time 2 pray.This is definitely a time 2 pray. Just get down on your knees and shout out 2 THE ALMIGHTY VERY HIGH GOD. Begin 2 say Lord send down your POWER and let it rain, let it rain til it can not rain anymore. Thank you 2 the person that commented that people is always talking about BRYAN when something happen. You know this is not a time 2 put people or the twin cities down,this is a time 2 pray for one another,encourage and uplift others and not just yourself.That one person that is always putting the Bryan residents down all the time you need 2 take another look in the mirror and reevaluate yourself and ask self would GOD act as I do(HOPEFULLY SELF DO NOT ANSWER BACK).My deepest sympathy goes out 2 both families because both are victims.Keep your head up,keep GOD first in whatever you do,stay in prayer and do not ever forget your memories.They will be your prize possession for the rest of your life.My God Bless and Keep You!
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Posted by:
Recon64 On:
Thursday, April 09, 2009 9:42 PM
Comment Title: huh?
For those saying the alleged shooter was "a good kid," give me a break and quit stating the irrelevant. If he is guilty, he belongs in the chair or in an institution permanently. If not, he's a war hero who deserves our respect. There is no statement in between that matters.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 16, 2009 2:19 PM
Comment Title: Rachel in Midland TX
Wayne and Shirley I am so sorry for your loss, Know that your family is in our prayers. I could always hear the love you had for your daughter in your voice. I have children and I hurt for you and your wife as parents. I pray that GOD gives you the strength and comfort that you so desperatley need at this moment. I feel helplessness, because I don't know how or what I can do to ease your pain in these moments...GOD bless you!
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Posted by:
Jaclynn On:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 8:53 PM
Comment Title: Shocked/Grieved/Denial
I met Rachel at TCU when she went to school there. I didn't know her that well, but I am more moved and hurt by the fact that things like this happen. Bottom line, this guy had a choice and he clearly made the wrong one. He pulled the trigger, and in a second he took somebody's life away. He took somebody ELSE'S life away. There should be nobody on earth capable of having the power to take somebody else's entire life like it was nothing. Not only was this guy selfish enough to take their lives, he made the decision to pull the trigger; he made the decision to bring the gun in the first place. What was he even doing with a gun?! I grew up around guns and love them, but I have never thought to use it on someone. My mom grew up with her parents, and though things like this seem to happen everyday in the world, I am deeply, deeply, saddened that it happened to this family. My thoughts and prayers go out to both families; God be with them. God be with the world today.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 09, 2009 5:17 PM
Comment Title: Hateful
Some of y'all are being no better than him with the hateful things y'all are putting up here. Think of both families (yes, both families, more than one is hurt from this) involved and what they are going through before you type such hateful things. Do you really think they want to have the memory of their children remembered with such hatred?! Show some respect!
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Posted by:
Jared On:
Monday, March 09, 2009 4:05 PM
Comment Title: Makes me sick
I'm sure John's family must be grieving as well, but let me be clear: I don't care. Their son is still alive. They can still see him. They can still communicate with him. They can periodically visit him if he is convicted, and if by some huge error in the legal system, John could eventually be a free man. John premeditated these murders. He knew what he wanted to do when he took the gun from his house, and he was thinking about what he was going to do for the entire drive over to the Joiner's residence. He knew what he was doing when he pulled the trigger a MINIMUM of 4 times to make sure he killed Rachel and Travis. Maybe John WAS a good person. He IS not a good person anymore. And nothing in his past can mitigate the heinous crimes he has committed.
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Posted by:
a Friend in Brenham-JT On:
Monday, March 09, 2009 2:52 PM
Comment Title: John's life
As a military (USMC) wife and a woman who knew John, i can say that he was definitely not thinking clearly when this tragedy happened. It's a terrible loss to loose your children to a meaningless crime as well as to loose your child as a result of traumatic expereince. Iraq does many things to many people and I'm guessing when I say this but perhaps something finally snapped inside of John and even though he may not have dealt with it in the right way- I know he is not a malicious person. It's very unfortunate and sad that things have happened this way and my heart and prayers are with both families. I do not know the deceased but I do know John and to hear that this has happened both shocks and saddens me. Perhaps we should be looking for a way to HELP John rather than to condemn him. I agree that he should not go without retribution but accusing him of being malicious is just not true. As I said, my prayers are with both families and I pray that everyone involved comes out a better and forgiving person because of this. For those of you who do not know John, please keep your comments to yourself because pointing the finger and making claims about his personality is not your place. John has always been a gentleman and an honorable man- although he has done something atrocious, I believe that it was truly not him and that he will realize and get help for what is bothering him. You're all in my prayers- God Bless Y'all!!
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Posted by:
Former Bellville Student On:
Sunday, March 08, 2009 12:59 PM
Comment Title: John's Life
I have to say that I have known John for years and was with him in band as a percussionist. He was a great man with so much potential. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Joiner family as well as to the Thuesen family. My family was in tears to hear the news. It is tragic not only for the family who lost their loved ones but also because the Thuesen family is more or losing a son in the process because he threw his away when he pulled the trigger. Something very tragic must have happened in Iraq for him to have committed this because John was the definative Southern Gentleman until this event. He would open doors and help handicapped people from here to there as I saw him do with the mother of another percussionist since she could not walk on uneven ground. It is hard to believe that it happened but just realize that his family must be hurting too. My thoughts and prayers are with both families at this time.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:03 AM
Comment Title: Thuesen was arrested in Hempstead for Stalking
Thuesen was arrested by Hempstead Police Department for Stalking about a year ago. He terrified a young girl there.
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Posted by:
Ray On:
Sunday, March 08, 2009 12:21 AM
Comment Title: Where are all the details?
I read this article and keep seeing posts about details not in the article so where are they coming from? Rumors?? I did not know the deceased but my prayers are with their family. I however do know the accused. This boy is a good kid he was a Marine and served his country with honor....He missed his brother's wedding to serve his country. I don't know if he did what he is accused of or not but in the country that he proudly served we are innocent until proven guilty. Please keep John and his family in your prayers as well as the Joiner family.
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Posted by:
LKCONNER--OZONA On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 10:47 PM
Comment Title: THE JOINER FAMILY
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO WAYNE AND SHIRLEY, WE ARE TRUELY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. YOUR CHILDREN ARE SPECIAL KIDS AND WILL BE IN OUR HEARTS AND WE WILL MISS THEM DEEPLY. NOW AS FAR AS I HAVE READ THE TALK ABOUT THESE TWO KIDS BEING INVOLVED IN DRUGS IS VERY WRONG. I HAVE NOT READ ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR LIFE BACK HOME SO I FEEL LIKE THE READERS NEED TO KNOW THIS...TRAVIS IA AN EAGLE SCOUT, HE WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTFUL YOUNG MEN I KNEW. HIS PARENTS RAISED THEM GOING TO CHURCH. THEY WERE VERY LIKED IN SCHOOL. RACHEL WAS IN MY DAUGHTERS CLASS WHEN WE LIVED IN ELDORADO. SHE WAS THE SWEETEST YOUNG LADY. SHE WAS A FRIEND TO EVERYONE. SO I CAN SAY THE RUMOR OF THEM BEING INVOLVED IN DRUGS IS A FAR FROM THE TRUTH. MAY GOD BLESS THE JOINER FAMILY!!
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:53 PM
Comment Title: Lunatic
Look at the picture of this guy. This was taken as he was being booked in the county jail. Does he look happy to anybody else? The fact that the man had a gunshot wound to the but and one to the back seems like he was running away when he got shot first. The second shot was in the chest, so after shooting the running man in the butt, he put another one in his chest. The young woman who was sot also was shot in the hand once and in the chest. It could have been the same situation. The article said that he was in the garage with his girlfriend who he had just shot waiting for the police, she was still alive by the way and able to talk according to the account of the officer who said that she told them John shot her. This dude is a monster. I hope they sentence him quickly and get him out of our county and on death row.
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Posted by:
Texasgirl2 On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 5:23 PM
Comment Title: I'm so sorry for both families
Jesus Christ! I know this guy. He went to school in Bellville with my daughter & son. They all were in band together. Something snapped inside of John for him to do this. John was the nicest person, always friendly & caring. Very good student. Loved band and was very good on the drums. He came from a good home. My I'm stunned. Just stunned that he would snap like this. Those poor kids. Oh my Lord! Oh my Lord! My heart goes out to all the familes. Both families have my deepest sympathy. This is so tragic for everyone.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 1:09 PM
Comment Title: tragedy
When my daughter got the phone call about the Joiner kids, she just stopped. Stopped talking, sat down and froze. The tragic loss of both of these young people has caused a ripple effect of pain and sorrow that won't soon stop. Rachel and Travis were well-liked, intelligent, lovely people and the violent manner of their deaths has shocked this little town. My kids were a few years younger than Travis but knew Rachel and enjoyed her easy going and loving manner. My youngest girls have been worried about their youngest brother and parents since they see him on a daily basis at school. This family has experienced a loss that none of us can imagine and anyone who ever met ANY of these kids knows that the rumors of drugs or gang activity are just that...rumors started by someone who has nothing better to do than run their mouth about a situation they know nothing about. Our prayers are with the Joiners in this time of grief.
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Posted by:
TDT On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:03 PM
Comment Title: Absurdity
I have know Rachel and Travis since they were born. My daughter and Rachel were close friends as they took their first steps together. She was a beautiful child and young woman. Travis was the sweetest boy and young man I have ever known. There is a third child and when you thought there would not, could not be another as perfect as the first two another wonderful human blessed the family. These children are all exceptional due to the parents who raised them and loved them. Shirley and Wayne raised them to be the best they could be and never expected less or more from them. I sit around my house right now looking at pictures of Rachel from Proms, track meets, basketball games and childhood memories of the past. I assure you this tragedy had nothing to do with drugs or corruption on Rachel's and Travis' behalf. I cannot believe the accusation has even come into play. Please I beg of you, if you do not know whom you are speaking of or about, then don't. We are trying to process this the best way we can and don't need the absurd accusations mixed into this terrible tragedy. Racel and Travis are loved and admired. They will be missed terribly.
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Posted by:
Amanda Hryb On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:57 AM
Comment Title: Joiner shootings
I would like to clarify that Wayne and Shirley Joiner have a younger son, Evan. Please have your information correct and continue praying for the Joiner Family in their great loss.
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Posted by:
if you don't have anything nice to say On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:09 AM
Comment Title: To the people telling falsehoods
First I would like to say that my husband and I are very sorry for the family's loss. These two young adults have been our neighbor since me moved to College Station a year and 1/2. It is a tragedy what happened and nothing more. It was not a drug deal gone bad. The two victims were quiet, polite, they never had parties, and you would often see the same people at their house. My husband and I lived next to college students all over the country and we often commented on how well we lucked out this time around and we still feel that way. What it was, was a tragedy and to the people saying terrible things about the victims, I ask yourselves to put you in their families shoes. If your claim has no merit of truth to it (and it doesn't) don't say anything at all, people are hurt, the neighbors are sadden not scared. The only thing you should be saying if anything at all is I am sorry for your loss.
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Posted by:
jonm from Eldo On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:08 AM
Comment Title:
Seriously people the speculation and "drug Dealing" type crap has to go. I don't care if you are from Bryan or CS, whether you like it or not it is the same town divided by the sign. I lived in both towns while in college and neither was different than the other. Don't speculate horrible stuff and spew it on a website if you do not know what you are talking about. There are family and friends that read this so keep that in mind. Travis and Rachel were sweet and smart kids that had a great future that was taken away from them. Keep that in mind when you post.
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Posted by:
A good friend of Travis On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 10:59 AM
Comment Title: Rachel and Travis wonderful kids
It sickens me to know that in light of this tragedy there are those who try to accuse Travis and Rachel of anything, let alone being involved with dealing drugs. I've known Travis since 2004, and can vouch for the fact that he was a very kind, gentle, unassuming person. The idea that he, or his sister (who at least originally came to A&M on a track scholarship) had anything to do with drugs is not only absurd, but insulting. Rachel and Travis did NOTHING to bring this on themselves. It had NOTHING to do with where they lived, Bryan or College Station. It was simply a crazy boyfriend who made a really bad choice, and is now going to have to live with that for the rest of his life. Travis was his younger brother's hero. They were as close as I've ever seen any siblings. Instead of making unfounded accusations against undeserving victims, perhaps a little concern for their brother and parents is due. The family was close knit, and this is going to be very hard for them. Please be respectful in your comments, and keep unfounded speculation to yourself.
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Posted by:
S. Lori Richter On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:44 AM
Comment Title: Rude Accusations
You've got to be kidding accusing these kids of drug dealing. This family just lost two children. My daughter knew Travis - he was a great guy and an honors student. To the Joiner family - know that Travis and Rachel are loved and dearly missed. We are praying for you.
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Posted by:
Minor point On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:44 AM
Comment Title: to another mom
Next to last paragraph in article indicates the two deceased were the only children. Incorrect??? Condolences to the parents regardless.
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Posted by:
anothermom On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:37 AM
Comment Title: pain upon pain
How can commenters be so tasteless? Two families are suffering unimaginable pain and terms like "gang bangers" and "drug related" go beyond tasteless and cruel. The 16 year old brother of the Joiners is also in pain. Pray for both families affected by this tragedy. Don't add to their grief with such remarks. They apparently didn't know the Joiners.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:26 AM
Comment Title: To Family Member
I apologize for any idiotic comments posted regarding this story. All that matters is two young lives have ended. We should all just pray for the family and let the police do what they must.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:09 AM
Comment Title:
My friend was murdered in Bryan last year and the college station residents had a field day with nasty comments. Funny how when a Bryan man is killed its open season. When the tables are turned and a college station resident is killed we are supposed to show respect. It dosent matter what neighborhood or that you have teachers living next to you. A murder here or there is the same.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:02 AM
Comment Title: So sad...
I pray for this poor family as they suffer through this tragedy. I believe in God and I will pray for relief for this family. May God be with them during this time.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 8:59 AM
Comment Title: Sad Day
Please pray for both families involved in this terrible tragedy. The Joiner's have lost their two kids. This is devastating for anyone to have to go thru. The other family needs your prayers also - what they are going thru is horrible also. I know the shooter's family and what they are going thru is terrible. There are so many unanswered questions that may never be answered. Please pray for everyone involved.
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Posted by:
ZPD On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 8:36 AM
Comment Title:
Poor family. I hope all commenters will show some class.
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Posted by:
On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:59 AM
Comment Title:
The only children - can you possibly imagine the horror when hearing the news. If you believe, pray for the parents.
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Posted by:
family member On:
Saturday, March 07, 2009 12:57 AM
Comment Title:
Thanks to everyone who has followed this story, and peace to anyone who knew the victims. Their family is paralyzed. This has to do with relationships...not towns or colleges. We grieve. Any prayers are certainly welcome and to have ashred of support from the community means the world to us.
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