With her three young children nearby, Kim Xuan was shot to death last night in her South Philadelphia apartment by a former boyfriend who then turned his gun on himself, police said.
Xuan, 25, and Ren Sun, 36, were found in Xuan's third-floor apartment in the Southwark section about 8:15 p.m. after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. Police said Xuan's children, ages 5, 2, and 1, were in the apartment at the time of the shooting, although it was unclear where they were or if they were awake.
"This seems to have started from some type of domestic problem," said Homicide Sgt. Thomas Burke. "It appears that the man shot her and then turned the gun on himself."
Xuan's and Sun's bodies were found in bed in a front bedroom, police said. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said Sun was found with a .22-caliber revolver clutched in his right hand. He had been shot in his right temple. Lying beside him was Xuan, who had been shot in the left side of her face, police said.
Police said Xuan lived in the apartment with her children and had formerly dated Sun. Witnesses told investigators that Sun had arrived in the early evening and that they heard two gunshots a little later.
