In a shocking incident that has left a community in Georgia reeling, three children were found dead in what authorities are investigating as a murder-suicide. The suspect, identified as 56-year-old Jose Plasencia, was also found dead at the scene.
The victims, siblings Arianny Rodriguez, 13, Carlos Rodriguez, 9, and Chadal Rodriguez, 11, were discovered inside a car near a walking trail at Lucky Shoals Park in Gwinnett County. The children's mother was at a local hospital with another child, whom she shares with Plasencia, at the time of the tragic incident.
According to Gwinnett County police, Plasencia, who was not the father of the Rodriguez children, had told their mother that he would take them to get something to eat while she waited at the hospital. "After some time, the mother agreed to let the three children go with the suspect to grab a bite to eat while she remained at the hospital," officials said in a press release.
The bodies were discovered early Wednesday morning when an officer responded to an area check at the park. Upon further investigation, the officer found the four deceased individuals inside a vehicle parked along a pedestrian trail. The children appeared to be of elementary and middle school age.
The Gwinnett County Police Department's Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Unit are currently processing the scene and conducting an investigation into the causes of the deaths. As of the latest update, the investigation is being treated as a possible murder-suicide.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many struggling to come to terms with the loss of three young lives. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover the children's funeral expenses.
The mother and Plasencia were not in a relationship at the time of the shooting, according to police. The names of the deceased were withheld until next-of-kin notification could be made. The investigation is ongoing.
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