SAN ANTONIO -- Three people, including a 2-year-old girl, were shot to death early Sunday morning at an apartment complex on the city's north side, San Antonio police said.

The victims were found about 5 a.m. by a neighbor at the Coral Ridge Apartments in the 8500 block of Wakefield Drive behind North Star Mall. They were identified as Anika Allgood, 2, Courtney Gass, 26, and Kevin Bones, who was visiting from Texas City.

Police said they believe the shooting suspect, Christopher Allgood, 30, was the young girl's father and Gass's boyfriend.

Allgood was detained by an apartment security guard at the scene when he was found outside, allegedly holding a rifle. Police said he was detained before they knew about the slayings.

"At about 3 in the morning, a man was out here in the street firing a rifle into the air," said San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus. "A security guard came out (and) detained him until police got here."

McManus said that a short time later a neighbor walked into Allgood's apartment to borrow a cigarette and discovered the bodies.

"She walked in and found a woman lying on the floor in a puddle of blood," McManus said.

The woman then backed out and called police.

When officers arrived, they found the three victims shot to death.

Billy Watson, who said that he is a friend of Allgood, said that Allgood has a history of unstable behavior and that his girlfriend had recently complained of physical abuse.

"I never (saw) him hit her, but I believed he did," said Watson. "He does it when he's on vodka. He's like a miniature Hulk."

Allgood, however, maintained his innocence.

"She told me she did it," he said. "I didn't kill anyone."

Allgood was initially arrested and charged with discharging a firearm within the city. He has since been charged with one count of murder in connection with Gass' death.

Forensic investigators were expected to determine how the other two victims died.

Dawn Pennington, a friend of Gass, said that the victim loved taking pictures and was always smiling.

"Courtney was upbeat, fun," Pennington said. "She was just here a couple of weeks ago with us for a show and we had a blast."