Deputies: Man, woman fatally shot in Orange County murder-suicide

ORLANDO, Fla. — A 1-year-old child was in an Orange County home Wednesday afternoon as his parents were killed in what investigators called a murder-suicide.

Deputies said the shooting was reported at about 4 p.m. at the Landon Trace Townhomes near Holden and South Texas avenues.

The child was not injured in the shooting, which left Hans Peter Joseph, 28, and Geardine Petit Frere, 25, dead at the apartment, deputies said.

"Deputies cleared the residence and removed two young children from the residence," Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jeff Williamson said. "One child is believed to be the child of the victims. The female victim was babysitting the other child."

Investigators believe Joseph was the shooter.

Frere filed an injunction for protection against Joseph last month, but later withdrew it.

The 1-year-old was taken into custody by the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Cox Media Group