3 children found shot to death in Gwinnett park identified; shooter was not their father, police say

TUCKER, Ga. — Gwinnett police are investigating after they found a man and three children dead inside a car at a local park.

Detectives from the Homicide Unit said the victims were found at Lucky Shoals Park off on Britt Road in Tucker.

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Sgt. Michele Pihera said a patrol officer “stumbled upon” what she described as a suspicious vehicle, finding a man and three children dead inside. She said it was unclear when the incident had occurred, but said the people were shot.

“The victims appear to be two girls and one boy,” Pihera said.

Police have since identified the children as Arianny Rodriguez, 13, Carlos Rodriguez, 9 and Chadal Rodriguez, 11.

The children’s mother was at the hospital with another child who was being treated for an unrelated injury.

The mother and suspected shooter, who has not been identified, are the parents to the child who was at the hospital. The shooter was not the children’s father and was not in a current relationship with the children’s mother.

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Police said the suspect met with the victim’s mother, her three children and their child at the hospital. At some point, the mother agreed to let the three children go to grab a bite to eat while she was at the hospital.

The shooter will be identified after next-of-kin are informed.

“This appears to be an isolated incident and though it is tragic, our officers are going to step aside and do their job to the fullest and make sure they investigate this as if it were any other homicide and try to at least bring some conclusion to the families who may be involved,” Pihera said.

Channel 2′s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was at the scene Wednesday afternoon, where people in the community were horrified.

Meghan Cantrell brings her son to the park for a walk every day.

“It’s pretty awful to think someone would come here and do that,” Cantrell said. “This is a safe place.”

Cantrell said she was relieved that no families at the park walked up on the car before police.

“It’s even more sad that they would do it in such a family-oriented place,” Cantrell said.

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