Maryland mom-of-four shot dead holding baby by ex who ran off shouting he didn't care what he'd done

A mom-of-four was shot and killed by her sadistic ex while holding one of her two-month-old twins to the horror of her other children who were powerless to help their mother. The dad was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound .

The slaying happened around 11 p.m., which is when neighbors described hearing Tequia Monea Nails' children scream out in terror as multiple shots rang out in the family's first-floor Maryland apartment . "She had two twins. She had a son about 8 years old and she had a little daughter she like three," said a neighbor in Fairmont Heights who said they felt terrible for the children.

"It’s traumatic. I wouldn’t imagine no child growing up like that -- like its bad you wouldn’t want to see no child grow up like that for a person to be holding her newborn child," the neighbor added.

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Police identified the suspect as Quindell Mercer, 26—an estranged lover and father of the mom's two-month-old twins. Reports say he visited the family Tuesday night, but became violent once Tequia told him to get out. After he shot and killed the mother of his children in front of their siblings, he fled the apartment.

Neighbors said they caught the shooter dashing down the hallway when the came out to investigate the commotion. He reportedly spouted an expletive and said he didn't care that he gunned down the children's mother right in front of them. A band of law enforcement officials tracked the shooter down Wednesday in northeast D.C, finding him dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mercer was involved in a slew of domestic violence incidents with Nails who, last year, got a protective order against the father of her twins after he allegedly strangled her. It expired when she ultimately decided not to go forward in court. Mercer's mother who spoke to ABC said her son was under enormous pressure after he became a father.

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"He used to do everything for them. Everything was for them, " she said. "He used to try to give me money and I'm like no I appreciate you. You got twins."

Residents say domestic violence has become rampant in Prince George's County and the incident was a stark reminder of that grim fact. Neighbors, expressing great empathy for Nails' four children, said the impact is apparent. "That child has to grow up knowing both of her parents are gone now," the neighbor said.

A fundraiser on Preciousmemoriesfunerals.com was erected for Nails to help pay for funeral expenses.