Georgia man kills himself and his 3 stepchildren in car after telling ex-wife he's taking them out for dinner

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

GWINNETT COUNTY, GEORGIA: A man and three children were found dead inside a car in a Georgia park. Gwinnett County Police said in a news release that they are investigating a possible murder-suicide following the tragic discovery.

The deceased children were identified as Arianny Rodriguez, 13, Chadal Rodriguez, 11, and Carlos Rodriguez, 9. The man’s name has not been released. The children appeared to be elementary and middle school-aged.

Man and 3 children found dead inside car in Georgia

Sergeant Michele Pihera confirmed that the 3 children and the man suffered gunshot wounds but the medical examiner’s office will need to confirm if the wounds were the cause of death., USA Today reports. 

According to Pihera, the gun used to kill them was found at the crime scene, which has police to believe the murders occurred inside the vehicle. The mother of the children was in the hospital with another child who was being treated for an unrelated injury. 

Stepdad allegedly killed ex wife's 3 children

Police verified that the man and woman were the child's biological parents but were not in a relationship when the shooting incident took place, as per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

According to Atlanta News First, the man was the mother's "ex-husband" and "former stepfather of the children." The man along with the three children was at the hospital when the mother consented to their leaving to grab a bite to eat, while she stayed behind with the fourth child.

During a routine patrol in Lucky Shoals Park, Gwinnett County, Georgia, at 1.00 am on Wednesday, May 8, an officer noticed an odd car parked on a pedestrian trail. The cop yelled at the people inside the four-door passenger car but got no response. He could see the bodies inside as he got closer.

An online fundraiser has been set up to help the mother.

Internet fumes over stepdad's senseless crime

As soon as the news went viral on Facebook, the users started reacting to the tragic news. A user wrote, "This is so very sad RIP so much of this is happening lately lifes so stressful for people."

Another user added, "The fear and confusion those poor babies went through in their final moments."

Another user wrote criticizing the man who is thought to have taken the life of his children, "If he wanted to end his life that was his choice but why take the kids with him."

One person commented, "It's about time the government got really serious about men's mental health and well-being, this is the saddest news, Rip little ones."

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