A Houston woman was found shot to death Monday night outside her apartment, with her 3-year-old son locked inside.

Police said they were called to the apartment building and found the 23-year-old woman dead in the doorway with multiple gunshot wounds, KTRK reported.

Family members identified her as Diamond Thorton. Thorton’s wife, Nene Carr, arrived at the scene as police had surrounded the apartment, not knowing if anyone was inside or if the apartment was even involved in the murder.

Carr let them inside, where they found the toddler unharmed.

“They didn’t tell me who it was at first. I didn’t know exactly what was going on,” Carr said. “They just said my apartment was under investigation because there was a homicide. But me calling my spouse’s phone and it going straight to voicemail, I knew what was going on. And also me knowing that my child was in the house. If this person is gone, then who is watching my kid?”

Police initially said the dead woman was a babysitter, but Carr and other members of the family explained the situation.

The family said they believe they know who killed Thorton, but Houston police say only that the investigation continues.

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