Man Fatally Shoots Woman, Kills Self; Police Find Their Missing Children Safe Outside City

A woman was fatally shot by her children's father who was later found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in Philadelphia.

The couple's 2-year-old triplets — who went missing following their mother's death — were found safe by the police outside Montgomery County.

Philadelphia Police responded to a report of a person screaming on the 1800 block of East Haines Street at around 7:25 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived at the scene, they found a 39-year-old woman, identified as Maisah Larkin, with multiple gunshot wounds to her head. Medics pronounced the woman dead on the scene at around 8:36 p.m., NBC10 reported.

Authorities issued a "Missing Endangered Person" alert for Larkin's 2-year-old triplets in the same area shortly after. Investigators later learned the triplets were with their father, 37-year-old Stanley Baptiste.

Another "Missing Person Alert" was issued for Baptiste, who was last seen driving a Gold Lincoln navigator at around 8:00 p.m. Police eventually tracked down Baptiste inside his SUV in Landsdale with a gunshot wound to the head.

While he was driving around Landsdale, where he had an apartment, Baptiste was reportedly asked by police to stop. When his car gradually came to a halt, authorities found out he turned a gun on and shot himself. His children were not in the vehicle when this took place.

Police then launched an all-night search for the 2-year-old triplets. According to an update issued by police on Dec. 19, the missing triplets — two girls and a boy — were found safe found at a home in Lansdale. Baptiste had dropped the triplets with a friend in the city, sources reportedly said.

Larkin and Baptiste were in a relationship that included domestic violence, according to WFIN.

The motive behind the shooting was also listed by investigators as domestic violence. An active investigation with the Homicide Investigation Unit is ongoing.

However, officials did not provide additional information regarding the situation of the children.

A total of 499 homicides have been reported by police in Philadelphia this year as of Monday. This number is down by approximately 8% from the same time last year.

If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours, every day.