A man murdered his two children before shooting himself following an armed standoff with police . William R. Williams , known as Bill , shot himself after police surrounded his home in Springfield Missouri . The 51-year-old father-of-two also killed his son Brodie , 4 , and daughter Marley , 2 . Police arrived at the apartment complex , pictured , on Sunday before they surrounded the area . Officers sent in a robot to check the apartment after they heard loud bangs before entering the buliding . Police used a remote control robot similar to the one photographed here to search the apartment complex . It is understood that Williams filed twice for divorce . Police were called to the scene at 9.30pm on Sunday and began negotiations with the armed suspect . Following the shooting , police deployed a robot to check the scene before officers entered the apartment complex . Springfield Police Department confirmed they received a 'check person ' call on Sunday night . According to the Springfield News-Leader the police set up a perimeter area after they determined that WIlliams was carrying a firearm . Lieutenant Eric Reece said : 'Some of the noises and bangs you heard was us entering the apartment . 'We sent in robots , which helped clear for our safety . ' Lt Reece said his officers were processing the crime scene . Sam Coryell , executive director of TLC Properties said some of the residents were staying in vacant units during the standoff while others were sleeping in a clubhouse .
William R. Williams , 4 , killed his two children before taking his own life . The father-of-two shot himself following an armed standoff with police . Officers deployed a robot to check the apartment before they entered .