Indiana Mom Kidnapped In Front Of Kids, Shot Dead In SUV Blocks Away From Home

An Indiana woman kidnapped at gunpoint in front of her young children was found dead inside her SUV, authorities said.

The victim, identified as 39-year-old Maria del Socorro Maldonado Ambriz, was found murdered just blocks from her Fort Wayne home after she was kidnapped in her vehicle Saturday, Wane.com reported.

Ambriz was with her 12-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son when an unidentified male suspect, dressed in black, carrying a backpack and a short-barreled rifle forced his way into her residence in Standish Drive. The suspect reportedly threatened to kill Ambriz and the children and forced her to drive him away in her SUV.

The suspect "shot her to death just 4 blocks from her home, firing approximately 30 rifle rounds into her vehicle," Fort Wayne police said in a news release.

Investigators have ruled the death a homicide. The cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds.

Police have released footage of the suspect fleeing down a snow-covered street after the fatal shooting and requested assistance from the public in identifying the person. The suspect ran westbound from Standish Drive in the 2100 block Fairfax Avenue, police said.

Officers have also requested residents to review their security cameras and contact the police at 427-1201 or Crimestoppers at 436-STOP or use the P3 App if they have any information about the crime.

"It's one of those crimes that are shocking and definitely traumatic for the community and the kids, especially the kids and the family. It's something that we're working our best to bring a solution to try and solve. Sometimes you'll talk to a witness and you'll get a little bit of information and you'll put those pieces together and that leads you to someplace else so you're just following the chain of evidence to find out who this person is," said Jeremy Webb, an investigator with Fort Wayne police department.

Police have not revealed if Ambriz knew the suspect before.