Deputies: Mother shot, killed her young children before killing herself

LILLINGTON, N.C. -- After preliminary autopsy reports, deputies say the mother and two children found dead on Cherry Hill Drive Friday in Lillington was a murder-suicide. Authorities say the mother shot and killed her 3-year-old son and 21-month-old daughter before fatally shooting herself.

Deputies responded to a "wellbeing check" around 4 p.m. on Friday at the home and found the mother dead downstairs and the children dead upstairs.

Officials identified the mother as Danielle Biggs and the children as Gwendolyn and Benjamin Biggs.

The family's dog was also found shot to death, according to authorities.

Deputies say Danielle Biggs' husband is on active duty with the military and was not in the United States when the incident happened.