North Carolina mom shot, left two toddlers in car for hours

A gunman reportedly left two toddlers stuck in a car overnight after allegedly fatally shooting their mother and the man she was with, as temperatures plummeted to around freezing in a North Carolina town.

Eric Coley, 42, has been arrested and charged with double murder, Rocky Mount Police said in a release.

Police were called to a construction company’s parking lot on Thursday morning after employees showing up for work saw the adult victims in the parked car — and two small surviving children in the back seat, officials said, according to WITN. According to the WTVD, the police said the children were “infancy”.

The two children were not injured but were taken to hospital nonetheless because they were stuck in cold temperatures for hours, police reportedly said. They were later given to relatives.

The two fatal victims were identified as Devone Brown, 28, and Destiny Wiggins, 24, according to WRAL. Cops said the couple was shot.

The two children during the horrific crime were Wiggin’s daughters, her sister told CBS 17.

“Destiny is one of eight children born to my mother, Donna Wiggins. She has four children, two girls and two boys,” Sister Breana Wiggins told the broadcaster.

Coley was charged with double first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a criminal, police officers said. He was taken to the Nash County jail and his first court appearance was scheduled for Monday morning.

The investigation is ongoing and police said more charges could be added.

What led to the shooting is unclear.