SAN ANTONIO – Two parents were killed Monday, but their baby is safe.
Adrian Hardeman died Monday afternoon, hours after he was accused of murdering the mother of his child, April Russell.
The Department of Public Safety confirmed the man's death. In a statement, DPS said around 2:45 p.m. troopers responded to a single car crash at Alternate Highway 90 and County Road 364 in Gonzales County. Troopers shot and killed Hardeman after they "made contact with the armed suspect."
READ MORE: Man suspected of killing woman, taking child killed by DPS troopers
He'd been on the run from police for less than three hours.
Police said Hardeman murdered Russell, 34, the mother of his child, around noon Monday.
"He was trying to reconcile, trying to get back into the woman's life. She wants nothing to do with him," police Chief William McManus said.
The Bexar County District Clerk confirmed on June 29, 2016, Russell asked Hardeman for child support. Though awarded, he never had to pay it because the two moved in together and testified they'd both support the baby.
Then, records show on Dec. 3, 2016, Hardeman was charged with assault -- bodily injury, for "recklessly causing bodily injury to April Russell by striking" her. He was still awaiting trial on the charges.
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"They just moved in a couple weeks ago," said neighbor Nancy Lupolt, who believes only the mother and baby had moved in to the apartment on Loop 410 near Starcrest Drive.
She said she did see Hardeman and Russell screaming at each other outside her apartment, just 90 minutes before the shooting. McManus said Hardeman left and later came back, broke through the window, shot Russell in the back room and left with the child.
"I didn’t hear anything like, 'I’m going to kill you' or anything like that, but just nasty names. She was in retaliation more than he was. He was calling her everything. And it was loud," she said. "That's what caught my attention. I was heading out to go to the store."
By the time she got back there was crime scene tape surrounding the apartment.
"There was a cameraman there and I said ‘Was there a murder?’ And he said ‘Yes.’ I said ‘Was she wearing a blue T-shirt?’ I just had a feeling it was her. Sure enough it was," Lupolt said.
By Monday afternoon, police found the child at a home on Wycliff Drive where neighbors said Hardeman's family members live.
"Uh! I was so excited. I was relieved because I knew she was gone but I'm just so thankful the baby's OK," Lupolt said.
The baby is safe, yet now without a mother and father.
The Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation into the shooting that happened in Gonzales County. That is protocol when there is a trooper-involved shooting.
Police will continue the murder investigation back in San Antonio.
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