A Md. Mom Was Fatally Shot While Holding Her Ba...

A Maryland mother was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend who later turned the gun on himself, authorities said

Published Time: 01.10.2024 - 01:31:11 Modified Time: 01.10.2024 - 01:31:11

A Maryland mother was fatally shot by her ex-boyfriend who later turned the gun on himself, authorities said.

Tequia Nails, 32, was found with gunshot wounds inside her Fairmount Heights, Md., home, where officers responded around 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, according to a press release from the Prince George’s County Police Department. She was pronounced dead at the scene, per the release.

At about 10 a.m. the next day, police said they were notified that 26-year-old Quindell Mercer, whom they identified as Nails’ ex-boyfriend, was found dead in Washington, D.C., according to the release. Police said they believe Mercer shot Nails before fleeing the scene, calling the apparent murder-suicide a “domestic-related” fatal shooting.

According to her obituary, Nails was remembered as a “devoted mother” of four children: an 8-year-old son, a 3-year-old daughter, and two-month-old twins.

Sources told WJLA that Mercer was the father of her twins, one of whom they claim she was holding when she was shot. Fox 5 DC also reported, citing family members, that Mercer was the father of the twins. However, police did -

‘Shawshank Redemption’ Direc,...

not specify the relationship between the two children, other than saying they “were in a previous relationship." The release didn't state whether there was anyone else present at the time of the shooting.

According to Fox 5 DC, family members said Mercer opened fire after Nails repeatedly asked him to leave and that she had previously expressed no longer wanting to be in a relationship with him.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

"It’s traumatic,” a neighbor who wished to stay anonymous told WJLA of the circumstances surrounding the shooting. “I wouldn’t imagine no child growing up like that -- like it’s bad you wouldn’t want to see no child grow up like that for a person to be holding her newborn child.”

Similarly, Nails’ family is reeling from the loss.

“We're falling apart,” her father told Fox 5 DC. "Everybody can't believe it. It's Kiki."