Gwinnett County 3 children killed in suspected murder-suicide: Latest

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A mother and her family in Gwinnett County are mourning an unimaginable tragedy after three children and a man were found dead in a car Wednesday. Police believe it was a murder-suicide.

On Wednesday evening, police identified the three children, ages 13, 11 and 9. On Thursday she identified the 56-year-old suspect.

RELATED: Names of three children released, man found dead in suspected murder-suicide in Gwinnett Park

Here’s what we know about the case:

• The children were siblings: They have been identified as Arianny Rodriguez, Chadal Rodriguez and Carlos Rodriguez.
• They have a fourth surviving sibling: The fourth child went to the hospital for treatment of an injury on Tuesday and was in the hospital with the child’s mother when this incident occurred.
• The suspect has been identified: Police named the suspect as 56-year-old Jose Plasencia of Norcross. They said he had previously had a relationship with the mother and was the father of the fourth child who was being treated at the hospital.
• The other three left the hospital with Plasencia, police said, and the mother thought they were getting food: Meanwhile, the mother remained in the hospital with her fourth child. Police said they were unable to contact them throughout the night.
• They were discovered in a car around 1 a.m. Wednesday: An officer was conducting a routine check at Lucky Shoals Park on Britt Road when he saw a car parked on the pedestrian walkway. 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 three children suffered gunshot wounds, police added.
• Police said they would try to “bring a solution to the families”: “It’s tragic. Our officers will step back and … do their jobs with full force and make sure they investigate this as if it were any other murder,” said Gwinnett Police Sergeant Michele Pihera.
• photos:11Alive was in contact with a family friend who provided the following photos of the children with their mother’s permission.

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