Four children slain at start of Florida standoff: police

[June 15, 2018]  (Reuters) - A convicted felon who engaged police in a nearly daylong standoff at his Florida apartment before taking his own life fatally shot four children in their sleep at the start of the confrontation, the Orlando Police Department said on Thursday.

Police who stormed the apartment after 21 hours on Monday night found suspect Gary Wayne Lindsey, 35, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The bodies of four children were also found inside the three-bedroom apartment.

Police have said Lindsey was the father of the two youngest children.

The incident began when Lindsey's girlfriend called police to report an incident of domestic violence. The suspect opened fire on police through a front door of the apartment, critically wounding officer Kevin Valencia. The girlfriend, who was the mother of all four children, fled and was unhurt, according to the Orlando police.

"Our preliminary investigation has revealed the children were found deceased lying in their respective beds, wearing the same bedtime clothes their mother reported they were dressed in when she put them to bed," the Orlando Police Department said on Twitter.

"Based on the condition of the victims' bodies at the time of discovery, coupled with a thorough review of the investigation so far regarding this case, OPD homicide detectives believe the children were killed while they slept, either shortly before or shortly after the suspect's initial contact with (police)," the police department said.

Valencia remained in critical condition on Thursday, according to the statement posted on Twitter. Police previously said it was unclear when the children were killed, but said that a stockpile of firearms including two rifles, two shotguns and a handgun were found inside the apartment.

Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr., 35, is seen in this Volusia County Corrections booking photo taken in Florida, U.S., May 8, 2018. Courtesy Volusia County Corrections/Handout via REUTERS

Lindsey was a convicted felon on probation after pleading no contest to arson and battery charges. In a 2008 incident, Lindsey became violent during an argument with his former fiancée and set the house on fire after the woman fled.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.