GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A mother and family in Gwinnett County are grieving in the wake of an unthinkable tragedy after three children and a man were found dead in a car on Wednesday, in what police believe was a murder-suicide.
On Wednesday night, police identified the three kids, ages 13, 11 and 9. On Thursday, they identified the 56-year-old suspect.
Here's what we know about the case:
Gwinnett County suspected murder-suicide | What we know about deaths of 3 children
- The children were siblings: They were identified as Arianny Rodriguez, Chadal Rodriguez and Carlos Rodriguez.
- They have a fourth, surviving sibling: The fourth child went to the hospital on Tuesday to be treated for an injury, and was at the hospital with the children's mother when this incident occurred.
- The suspect was identified: Police named the suspect as 56-year-old Jose Plasencia of Norcross. They said he was previously in a relationship with the mother, and is the father of the fourth child who was in the hospital being treated.
- The other three left the hospital with Plasencia, police say, and the mother thought they would be getting food: Meanwhile, the mother stayed at the hospital with the fourth child. Police said she wasn't able to get in contact with them as night went on.
- They were discovered in a car around 1 a.m. Wednesday: An officer was doing a routine check at Lucky Shoals Park on Britt Road when he saw a car parked on the pedestrian trail. Police said when the officer approached the four-door car, he saw four bodies inside -- with the man sitting in the front seat of the car. The man and the three children had gunshot wounds, police added.
- Police said they will try to "bring some conclusion to the families": "It is tragic. Our officers are going to step aside and... do the job to the fullest and make sure that they investigate this as if it were any other homicide," Gwinnett Police Sg.t Michele Pihera said.
- They attended school in DeKalb County. 11Alive obtained letters from a spokesperson for the DeKalb County School District that were sent to the families of Kingsley Elementary School and Peachtree Middle School announcing the students' death.
- Photos: 11Alive has been in touch with a family friend, who provided the below photos of the children with the permission of their mother.
- GoFundMe: An online fundraiser has also been set up to help raise money for a burial service for the children.
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