Teen Mother, 2 Children Shot Dead Near New Orleans

A fourth victim, an 11-year-old girl, underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds.

A teenage mother, her 23-month-old son and a 6-year-old boy were found shot to death in an apartment in a crime-ridden neighborhood near New Orleans early on Saturday, police officials said.

A fourth victim, an 11-year-old girl, underwent surgery for multiple gunshot wounds, said Colonel John Fortunato, a spokesman for the Jefferson Parish sheriff's office.

The two children were shot in the head.

Witnesses told police that two men opened fire after kicking in the door of the apartment in Terrytown, a suburb of New Orleans on the west bank of the Mississippi River.

Police responded to a 3:43 a.m. (0843 GMT) report of gunshots and found Domonique Sterling, 19, lying on the floor in the living room with a gunshot wound to the back. Her toddler son, Robert Claiborne, and 6-year-old Four Overstreet were found in a bedroom.

Sterling and her son were apparently staying with the Overstreet family, Fortunato said.

"We haven't been able to establish a motive as of yet," he said.

Crack cocaine and marijuana were found in the apartment. Local media said the neighborhood had a reputation for violence and drug activity and recent armed robberies had resulted in homicides.