PICTURED: Border protection officer, 39, ‘who shot and killed his wife and their two sons, ages 16 and 12, before turning the gun on himself following a family trip to Disney World’

• Officials in Florida say US Customs and Border Protection agent assigned to Orlando International Airport killed his family sometime before Thursday
• Deputies performing welfare check discovered bodies of the agent, his wife and two sons Thursday afternoon
• Deceased have been identified as Ezequiel Almodovar, 39, Marielis Soto, 38, Ezequiel Almodovar, 16, and Gabriel Almodovar, 12 
• Eldest boy attended East River High School and was on junior varsity basketball team  

A US Customs and Border Protection agent killed his wife and two school-aged sons, before taking his own life at the family’s Florida home, authorities said Thursday night.

Orange County Sheriff John Mina on Friday identified the deceased as CBP officer Ezequiel Almodovar, 39, his wife Marielis Soto, 38, and their sons, 16-year-old Ezequiel ‘Zeke’ Almodovar and 12-year-old Gabriel Almodovar.

The border protection agent allegedly killed his family after posting a gushing message on his Facebook page about a family trip to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

In other recent posts, the 39-year-old married father-of-two repeatedly professed his love to his wife and wrote cryptically about ‘new beginnings.’   

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Officials in Florida say US Customs and Border Protection agent Ezequiel Almodovar, 39 (right), shot and killed his family, including wife Marielis Soto, 38, and sons Ezequiel Almodovar, 16, and Gabriel Almodovar, 12 (pictured together last year) 

Almodovar was assigned to Orlando International Airport, where his colleagues became concerned when he failed to show up for work

Deputies responded to a residence in the 2000 block of Circle Glen Drive east of Orlando at around 3pm on Thursday after the agent’s colleagues expressed concern when he failed to show up for work, Orange County Sheriff John Mina said at a news conference. 

Deputies learned the family members hadn’t been seen since last week, so they entered the home to perform a welfare check and found the four family members dead from gunshot wounds.

The bodies were found inside this home in the 2000 block of Corner Glen Drive east of Orlando on Thursday afternoon 

‘It’s just a tragic circumstance,’ Mina said.

Diane Sabatino, CBP director of field operations in Miami and Tampa, released a statement confirming the deadly incident and saying the federal agency is aiding the sheriff’s office with the investigation.  

‘It is with heavy hearts that the CBP family in Florida is working through the tragic deaths of Marielis Soto and her two young children, Gabriel & Ezequiel at the hands of Ezequiel Almodovar,’ she said.

Investigators so far have offered no motive for the family’s killings. 

On his Facebook page, Almodovar frequently posted loving status updates, including heart emojis directed at his wife, whom he called his ‘baby.’ 

His final post, dated February 18, said he was ‘feeling thankful’ to be with his wife and sons at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

On Valentine’s Day, the border agent shared this digital collage made up of a half-dozen photos of himself and his wife

In recent posts, the 39-year-old married father-of-two repeatedly and effusively professed his love to his wife, calling Soto his ‘baby’ and his ‘queen’ 

This images taken a few years earlier shows three generations of Almodovar men, including the CBP agent, his father, also named Ezequiel, and his two sons 

‘Family time..we needed this..no school, no work, no adult bull**** just family time and enjoying life through eyes of kids..love you baby,’ Almodovar wrote. 

On Valentine’s Day, the border agent shared a digital collage made up of a half-dozen photos of himself and his wife, writing in the accompanying caption: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day to my forever valentine!!!!!! Today is a day of love but theres not enough days for me to show you how much I love you and how much you mean to me today and everyday!!!! Youve always been there for me and I hope I can continue to show you the love you deserve mi amor..te amooooo forever and ever!!!!!’

This photo shared on Facebook by Almodovar’s grieving sisters depicts the border agent in his dress uniform 

He ended the post with 49 heart emojis.

The next day, Almodovar shared an image of himself and Soto hugging and admiring the Jacksonville, Florida, skyline. 

He described his mood as ‘feeling fantastic’ and wrote, ‘New beginnings….’ 

Graylann Holland, 15, told the Orlando Sentinel that he attended East River High School with the officer’s eldest son, also named Ezequiel, and was on the junior varsity basketball team with him. 

Graylann said he last saw his friend, whom he’s known since fourth grade, last Thursday and exchanged text messages with him that Friday.

Almodovar’s sister, Gloria, on Friday took to Facebook to defend her brother, saying that he loved his family and urging people who did not know them to refrain from leaving negative comments. 

‘He is the best man and father I have ever known and I wish I could have told him that so he knew how much he was loved and looked up too,’ she wrote. 

She paid tribute to Soto’s family and her nephews, adding: ‘I dont understand WHY?’ 

Orange County Sheriff John Mina described the triple murder-suicide as ‘tragic’

Neighbors told WFTV they believe the family had lived in the home for five or six years,  and they would often see the Border Patrol officer walking the family dog. 

According to Mina, deputies were never called to the family’s home before Thursday.  

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