New Details Unfold In Likely GA Murder-Suicide That Killed 3 Kids, Man

TUCKER, GA — Gwinnett County Police have released new details into a fatal shooting that killed three children and a man Wednesday in the 4600 block of Britt Road.

Police said the case is being probed as a possible murder-suicide.

Police identified the three children as Arianny Rodriguez, 13, Carlos Rodriguez, 9, and Chadal Rodriguez, 11, all of Atlanta.

Their mother was at a hospital with another unidentified child, who police said was being treated for an unrelated injury. The suspected gunman was the father of the hospitalized child, but not the three slain children.

The Rodriguez children were found dead while an officer was conducting an area check around 1 a.m. at Lucky Shoals Park, police said.

The officer found a "suspicious vehicle" parked near a pedestrian trail, police said.

When the officer called out to the car's occupants, he received no response, police said. After approaching the car, police said the officer saw the children and the man inside the car.

Police said the man who died was the driver, the suspected shooter and the father of the child who was at the hospital. He was not identified by name, pending next-of-kin notification.

The man did not father the three children who died and was not currently in a relationship with the mother, police said.

Police said he met with the mother and children at the hospital, and after some time, the mother allowed him to take the children to grab food while she remained at the hospital.

A motive in the case is unknown.

"At this time, detectives are investigating this case as a possible murder-suicide, but final determination will be made by the Medical Examiner’s Office," police said in a news release.